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Grain Belt Express Awards $1.7B to U.S. Contractors Quanta and Kiewit to Build Largest Transmission Line in U.S. History – Invenergy

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Highest Capacity and First U.S. Transmission Line to Connect Four Grid Regions Builds on Domestic Energy Supply Chain and Manufacturing Investments

KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Grain Belt Express, the largest electric transmission project in the U.S., today announced nearly $1.7 billion in combined U.S. contractor awards to Quanta Services (Quanta), a leader in specialized infrastructure solutions for the energy industry, and Kiewit Energy Group Inc. (Kiewit), one of America’s leading engineering, construction and procurement companies.

Grain Belt Express, an Invenergy project, is an 800-mile transmission line using state-of-the-art high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology. It spans 4 states—Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana—that have all approved the line as a project in the public interest. The open-access transmission line will add 5,000 megawatts of U.S. energy delivery capacity. By unlocking market efficiencies, Grain Belt Express will provide $52 billion in energy cost savings to Americans over 15 years. Grain Belt Express Phase 1, the portion of the project connecting Kansas and Missouri, is targeting commencement of construction in 2026, which is estimated to create over 4,000 jobs.

“We’re pleased to partner with Quanta and Kiewit as we build the biggest transmission line in U.S. history. Grain Belt Express is a transformative project that delivers jobs and deepens America’s energy supply chain capabilities in innovative transmission technology,” said Michael Polsky, Founder & CEO of Invenergy. “Interregional transmission is key to unleashing American energy dominance to power our nation’s businesses and strengthen our national security.”

Quanta Services and Kiewit have strong local presences and expect to source raw materials locally in Kansas and Missouri when possible, including concrete, aggregate, civil materials, conduit, and piping. Main construction, engineering, and procurement offices for Grain Belt Express Phase 1 will be based out of Overland Park and Lenexa, KS.

“Grain Belt Express is an important project that supports the country’s energy dominance priority, manufacturing reshoring, mission to lead the world in artificial intelligence and secure our grid. The entire Quanta team, including those at our Infrastructure Solutions Group in Kansas City, is ready and looks forward to helping modernize our electric infrastructure and bring much-needed relief to energy consumers across the Midwest,” said Duke Austin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Quanta Services.

“We’re very pleased to be an integral part of the Grain Belt Express project, which is focused on delivering a significant transmission project that will help ensure reliable, secure power in the United States,” said Chad Jessen, Executive Vice President, Kiewit Energy Group Inc. “Our extensive EPC experience with complex power delivery projects suits us well, especially using this HVDC technology to connect grid regions to help reliably meet growing energy demand.”

Grain Belt Express will strengthen U.S. grid security and enhance reliability, enabling deliverability for both new-build generation and over eight gigawatts of existing dispatchable generation near the line’s connections with multiple regional grids. The line’s pro-market merchant business model brings together willing buyers and sellers of electricity, an alternative to central planning where ratepayers shoulder all costs for new transmission lines. Grain Belt Express will help states and regions meet rapidly growing electricity demand driven by data centers and manufacturing, while also powering economic prosperity with direct infrastructure investment in local economies.

“This announcement shows once again how much Missouri can contribute to big infrastructure projects like this transmission line, which will help bring energy savings and reliability to 39 municipal utilities across the state. It’s great to see Grain Belt Express continuing to invest in Missouri and support our workers, especially after their recent agreements with Hubbell Power Systems in Centralia and the Missouri Public Utility Alliance,” said Missouri Speaker of the House Jon Patterson.

“Grain Belt Express is a multi-billion-dollar investment in Kansas and an essential American infrastructure project. The selection of contractors and suppliers with a local presence is just one of the many sizable economic benefits Grain Belt Express brings, in addition to greater energy cost savings and reliability,” said Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson.

“Kansans working to balance household budgets and run businesses want energy that’s affordable and reliable, and that’s what we are getting with Grain Belt Express, all without ratepayers being forced to pay for it. I look forward to seeing the positive impact of the thousands of jobs and billions in investment that this project will bring to Kansas,” said Kansas Speaker of the House Daniel Hawkins.

The selection of Quanta and Kiewit adds to domestic energy supply chain investments and commercial commitments for Grain Belt Express Phase 1 as project execution advances toward construction:

Prysmian North America: Long-term supply and manufacturing agreement for advanced transmission conductors. Agreement supports a 50,000 square foot factory expansion nearing completion in Williamsport, PA that is set to double U.S. manufacturing capacity for certain advanced transmission conductors using U.S. aluminum.Hubbell: Equipment supply and manufacturing agreement for insulators and transmission assemblies. This agreement will continue to support American jobs across Hubbell’s manufacturing and distribution operation in Centralia, MO, where Hubbell is the largest employer, and its manufacturing facilities in Leeds, AL and Aiken, SC.Siemens Energy: Supply agreement for the HVDC transmission technology for Phase 1 of the project. Siemens Energy will support the engineering, procurement, construction, and final integrated design of the HVDC converter stations in Kansas and Missouri.Missouri Public Utility Alliance: Transmission service agreements to provide access to contractual energy cost savings for 39 Missouri municipal utilities.1,500 Landowner Agreements: Over $105 million in executed easement agreements, including $19 million already paid to landowners and an additional $86 million due at construction. Easement agreements allow continued use of the land, and over 95% of Grain Belt Express Phase 1 main line land acquisition is complete.

About Grain Belt Express
Grain Belt Express, an Invenergy project, is the biggest transmission project in U.S. history. An energy superhighway connecting four U.S. grid regions, Grain Belt Express can unleash all forms of American-made power to enhance energy reliability and strengthen U.S. security. No infrastructure project in development today delivers more cost savings to American consumers than Grain Belt Express. Learn more at https://grainbeltexpress.com/.

About Quanta Services
Quanta Services is an industry leader in providing specialized infrastructure solutions to the utility, renewable energy, technology, communications, pipeline, and energy industries. Quanta’s comprehensive services include designing, installing, repairing and maintaining energy, technology and communications infrastructure. With operations throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and select other international markets, Quanta has the manpower, resources and expertise to safely complete projects that are local, regional, national or international in scope. For more information, visit www.quantaservices.com.

About Kiewit
Kiewit is one of North America’s largest and most respected construction and engineering organizations. With its roots dating back to 1884, the employee-owned organization operates through a network of subsidiaries in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Guam. Kiewit offers construction and engineering services in a variety of markets including power; transportation; water; oil, gas and chemical; marine; building; industrial and mining. Kiewit had 2024 revenues of $16.8 billion and employs 31,800 staff and craft employees.

Contact:
media@invenergy.com

 

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World Young Scientist Summit 2026 Opens in Wenzhou, Zhejiang

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October 24, 2026

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WENZHOU, China, Oct. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — This is a report by China Daily:

On October 24, the World Young Scientist Summit 2026 opened in Wenzhou, Zhejiang. The event is hosted by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government, and the World Association of Young Scientists. Nearly 800 representatives, including scientists, educators, and entrepreneurs from more than 60 countries and regions, are attending the summit.

He Junke, Vice President of CAST in charge of daily work and First Secretary of its Secretariat; Lian Yimin, Chairman and Party Group Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; Marcelo Knobel, Executive Director of The World Academy of Sciences; and Zhang Zhenfeng, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Wenzhou Municipal Committee, attended the summit and delivered remarks. Yao Gaoyuan, Vice Governor of the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government, presided over the first segment of the plenary session.

With the theme “Gathering Talents Worldwide to Create a Better Future,” the summit’s annual agenda is “Global Youth Action in the AI Era: Building a Sustainable Future.” It aims to draw on the insights of young people around the world, deepen international sci-tech cooperation, and jointly address questions about young people, science, the world and the future.

Efim Zelmanov, Fields Medalist and Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Chen Yunji, Deputy Director of the Institute of Computing Technology, CAS, and Director of the National Key Laboratory of Processor Chips; Mary Garson, President of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; and Lu Chaoyang, Member of the Standing Committee of CAST, Executive Dean of the Shanghai Institute of Advanced Study, University of Science and Technology of China, and Chairman of the Council of the World Association of Young Scientists, delivered keynote speeches respectively on education reform in the AI era, AI and processor chips, young women scientists’ participation in science, and quantum computing. They explored new opportunities for scientific research, talent cultivation, and international cooperation in the AI era.

This year’s summit placed greater emphasis on the growth needs of young scientists, with young talents under the age of 45 accounting for 88 percent of participants. It aimed to build a cluster of international journals, bring together young scientific talent, facilitate a batch of international collaborative projects and advance the application and commercialization of scientific and technological achievements. The summit released the Report on the Distribution and Mobility of Young Scientists in the Field of Embodied Intelligence, launched the World Young Scientist Summit Partner Journal Program and the 2026 World Young Scientist Innovation and Entrepreneurship Growth Support Program. It also published the “Young Scientist Pioneers 2035” list and announced the 2026 Sustainable Development Young Scientist Award. The awards were presented to four Chinese and foreign scientists.

Chen Tianrun, Founder of Hangzhou Moxin Technology Co., Ltd.; Yuan Yang, Assistant to the Dean of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences at Tsinghua University; and two of the 2026 Sustainable Development Young Scientist Award winners, César de la Fuente and Nicola Segata, among other Chinese and foreign young scientist representatives, spoke at the flash-talk session to share their research practices and reflections.

In addition, the conference focused on fields such as future manufacturing, quantum information, embodied intelligence, brain-computer intelligence, environmental science, deep-sea resources, and life and health, and held 12 parallel forums. It also included the “Gravitation π” Future Technology and Concept Products Exhibition and Exchange, local thematic side events, and sci-tech and humanities study visits, further building an interdisciplinary, cross-regional and cross-sector platform for youth sci-tech exchange and cooperation.

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SOURCE China Daily

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The Ultimate Send-off to Summer: CSTS Debuts Global Entertainment IP PremierX at New York’s Pier 17, Ushering in a New Era of Live Entertainment

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3 hours ago

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October 24, 2026

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NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CSTS Enterprises (‘CSTS’), a New York-based sports, entertainment, integrated media and travel technology group, today announced the official launch of PremierXTM, its flagship live entertainment brand, with a landmark Halloween Weekend event “AFTER DARK” at The Rooftop at Pier 17 in New York on October 30, 2026.

Capping off Seaport’s 2026 Summer Season in unforgettable fashion, the grand finale brings a powerhouse lineup of stars to the PremierXTM stage at Pier 17, featuring Lil Xan, Armani White, DJ Soda, Nate Wyatt, and surprise A-list guest headliners. Set against the iconic Manhattan skyline, the landmark eventing unites chart-topping hip-hop and high-octane electronic music for a festival-grade experience as The Rooftop at Pier 17 transforms into the city’s premier live music destination.

Building on the momentum of the PremierXTM After Party for the 2026 World Cup Final that took place in New York on July 19th, “AFTER DARK” signals the official debut of PremierXTM, a proprietary, New York – born global entertainment IP created by CSTS to deliver defining cultural experiences at the intersection of music, sport, art and lifestyle. Centred on the power of cultural crossover, PremierXTM serves as an international bridge connecting East and West, modern innovation and timeless classical, while uniting world-class artists, creators, performers and audiences through the universal language of entertainment and premium live experiences.

The launch also marks the beginning of a promising relationship with Pier 17, providing a world-class stage for PremierXTM to accelerate its growth in the U.S. and engage international audiences over the long term. By combining PremierXTM’s global entertainment vision with Pier 17’s iconic waterfront setting, the partnership aims to create a premier destination for live experiences, empowering both platforms to expand their global reach, deepen audience engagement, and drive sustainable growth.

As a key pillar of CSTS’ integrated ecosystem spanning entertainment, sports, travel, integrated media and marketing solutions, PremierXTM further strengthens the Group’s ability to create high-impact experiences that connect audiences, destinations and brand partners. With the global live entertainment market projected to grow from approximately US$203 billion in 2025 to US$270 billion by 2030[1], PremierXTM is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for premium, experience-led entertainment while creating long-term value to the Group through recurring audience engagement, tourism and brand partnerships.

“PremierX TM represents a significant milestone in CSTS’ evolution from a leading operator of global sports and hospitality platforms into a creator of world-class entertainment experiences,” said Abel Zhao, Group CEO and Executive Director at CSTS Enterprises. “The season finale at Pier17 marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for CSTS as we expand our entertainment footprint and introduce a platform designed to deliver iconic live experiences and bring together artists and audiences from across the globe.”

“PremierXTM was built from the ground up as a bespoke platform to champion multicultural talent and visionary creative performers.” said Jason Liu, Regional Director of CSTS USA. “Starting from New York, we are building a scalable global brand that brings iconic live experiences to audiences worldwide while expanding our presence across key entertainment hubs in North America, Asia and Europe.”

Following its New York launch, PremierXTM plans to expand through a broader international rollout across North America, Asia and Europe, with future editions planned as part of a growing network of recurring live entertainment properties and flagship cultural events.

For ticket information on PremierXTM: “AFTER DARK”, visit
https://www.axs.com/events/1644912/after-dark-tickets

About CSTS Enterprises

CSTS Enterprises is an integrated media, entertainment, sports, and travel technology group. Headquartered in New York City, the company develops and partners with intellectual properties and brands to deliver compelling experiences that connect with audiences across the world. In addition to its own initiatives, including Generation CTM and PremierXTM, it collaborates with international IPs including FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship, and Formula 1.

CSTS integrates experiential marketing, travel, data, and technology to deliver seamless end-to-end audience experiences. The company engages consumers across physical events and digital channels, executing at scale worldwide, turning complex activations into co-ordinated, measurable outcomes.

[1] Source: Industry research by Markets and Markets, Live Entertainment Market Size, Share, Latest Trends & Growth Analysis, 2025-2030, Live Entertainment Market Size, Share, Latest Trends & Growth Analysis, 2025-2030.

 

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SOURCE CSTS Enterprises

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Swanson Vitamins Launches Swanson Vitamins Nexus Pro to Champion Registered Dietitians and Licensed Nutritionists at Every Stage of Their Careers

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3 hours ago

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October 24, 2026

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New network for health and nutrition professionals offers CPEU-accredited continuing education, profession-wide promotion, practicum support and exam scholarships

FARGO, N.D., Oct. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Swanson Vitamins today launched Swanson Vitamins Nexus Pro, a network for health and nutrition professionals. The new initiative champions registered dietitians and licensed nutritionists through every stage of their careers, from students to providers with decades of experience. Created by nutrition professionals for nutrition professionals, Swanson Vitamins Nexus Pro offers educational resources, incentives and investments to support practitioners who share Swanson’s commitment to uncompromising integrity.

Swanson Vitamins Nexus Pro offers tailored resources for both practicing professionals and students. For practicing registered dietitians and licensed nutritionists, the program provides CPEU-accredited continuing education, along with profession-wide promotion of the experts who guide consumers’ wellness decisions. For dietetics and nutrition students, Swanson is investing in the next generation of the profession through practicum support and scholarships toward licensing or credentialing exam fees.

As consumers take a more active role in their health, they are increasingly turning to registered dietitians and licensed nutritionists for accurate, science-backed guidance. Through Swanson Vitamins Nexus Pro, Swanson aims to help nutrition professionals strengthen their credentials and build expertise in areas where consumers are seeking trusted nutritional support.

“Since 1969, we have been committed to uncompromising integrity in service of everyone’s journey to real wellness, and we believe real wellness starts with the experts who guide it,” said Erin Del Ponte, EVP Brand Marketing at Swanson Vitamins. “Registered dietitians and licensed nutritionists translate nutrition science into practical, personalized guidance that helps people make informed decisions about their health. With Swanson Vitamins Nexus Pro, we are proud to support these professionals at every stage of their careers, from students preparing for their credentialing exams to seasoned providers building expertise in the areas that matter most to consumers today.”

Swanson Nexus Pro program highlights

CPEU-accredited continuing education for registered dietitians and licensed nutritionistsProfession-wide promotion of registered dietitians and licensed nutritionistsPracticum support for dietetics and nutrition studentsScholarships to help offset licensing or credentialing exam fees

Applications for Swanson Vitamins Nexus Pro are open and can be submitted HERE. Additional details, including scholarship award amounts and practicum support details, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Swanson Vitamins Nexus Pro was introduced at the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ annual conference, held Oct. 24-27 in San Antonio. This initiative builds on Swanson’s longstanding commitment to the nutrition and dietetics community and reflects the company’s continued investment in the professionals who help consumers make informed choices on their journey to real wellness.

Media Assets
Photos HERE

About Swanson Vitamins
Since 1969, Swanson Vitamins has offered high-quality, science-backed vitamins and supplements rooted in one simple belief: proof over promise. Nearly six decades before “wellness” became an industry, Swanson was pioneering trustworthy supplement offerings and upholding uncompromising quality standards through intentional sourcing, rigorous in-house and third-party testing and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

Today, Swanson is a Certified GMP Facility recognized by NSF, backed by an in-house team of nutritionists, dietitians, scientists, chemists and pharmacists with a combined 250-plus years of experience. With more than 1,300 products across 36 categories, Swanson doesn’t chase trends. It sets standards for integrity, quality and clarity in the supplement industry.

Swanson products are available at SwansonVitamins.com, Amazon and iHerb.com. Learn more at SwansonVitamins.com or follow @swansonvitamins on Instagram.

MEDIA CONTACT
Lauren Torrez, Crowe PR
ltorrez@crowepr.com 

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SOURCE Swanson Vitamins

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