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Parade and Steller Announce Lodi, California, as the National Winner of the “America’s Favorite Small Towns 2026” Competition

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The Central Valley community wins the national title for its unmatched community spirit, historic downtown, wine legacy and celebration of heritage leading up to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

NEW YORK and KIRKLAND, Wash., June 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Parade, the iconic American media brand, and Steller, the travel platform that connects travel videos to trip planning and booking, are thrilled to announce that Lodi, California, has been named the national winner of the “America’s Favorite Small Towns 2026” competition. After a nationwide search that engaged hundreds of communities and generated hundreds of thousands of votes, Lodi emerged as the champion, celebrated for its unique blend of agricultural heritage, vibrant culture and deep-rooted community pride.

Launched to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence—and to celebrate Parade’s own 85th anniversary in 2026—the “America’s Favorite Small Towns” initiative sought to highlight the hidden gems that define the heart of America. The competition invited tourism boards, municipalities, and residents to nominate their towns, resulting in a voting journey that initially narrowed the field to 40 finalists. From there, Parade’s Editors chose 10 regional winners who were eligible for the national prize.

Regional winners include:

Northeast: East Aurora, New York; Montpelier, VermontSoutheast: Dunedin, Florida; Rayne, LouisianaMidwest: Galena, Illinois; LaCrosse, WisconsinSouthwest: El Reno, Oklahoma; Silver City, New MexicoWest: Bend, Oregon; Lodi, California

“Lodi stood out not only for its world-class Zinfandel and stunning scenery but for the palpable passion of its residents,” said Lisa Delaney, General Manager and Chief Content Officer of Parade. “Throughout the competition, the people of Lodi mobilized with incredible energy, showcasing why their home is a ‘hidden gem’ that travelers need to experience. We are honored to celebrate a community that so perfectly balances deep historical roots with a forward-thinking, welcoming spirit.”

Nestled in California’s Central Valley, Lodi has long been recognized as the “Zinfandel Capital of the World,” a title it earned through its unique microclimate and the dedication of its multi-generational farming families. Today, Lodi is beloved for its approachable wine culture, inviting visitors to wander into tasting rooms without reservations, chat directly with winemakers, and discover more than 135 grape varietals along the way. Beyond its famous vineyards, Lodi impressed voters and judges alike with its highly walkable historic downtown, robust farmers’ markets, and a commitment to preserving its culture—demonstrated by the annual Lodi Grape Festival, which has been a community staple since 1934.

“We’re beyond thrilled and honestly a little blown away,” says Wes Rhea, President and CEO of Visit Lodi. “This win belongs to the people of Lodi, our residents, small business owners, hospitality partners and everyone who voted and rallied their friends, families and coworkers. Lodi showed up with heart, and we’re grateful Parade and Steller are shining a national spotlight on our small town and inviting the country to experience it.”

As the National Winner, Lodi will receive a premier awards package, including:

National Exposure: Extensive editorial coverage across Parade and Steller platforms.Bragging Rights: Usage of the official “America’s Favorite Small Town 2026” Winner BadgeJuly 4th Activation: A “Parade x Steller” event celebration at Lodi Lake on July 4th, designed to elevate the town’s Independence Day festivities with interactive experiences, sponsor engagement, and media coverage.

“We created this initiative to move beyond the usual tourist destinations and shine a light on the towns that define the American experience,” said Pete Bryant, CEO of Steller. “Lodi is a masterclass in how a town can leverage digital storytelling to share its authentic self with the world. We can’t wait to bring the Steller community to Lodi this July to celebrate this well-deserved win.”

Read more about Lodi’s journey to becoming America’s Favorite Small Town here, and view travel inspiration for the region, visit americasfavoritesmalltowns.parade.com.

About Parade: Parade, the premium legacy entertainment and lifestyle brand, has been enlightening, delighting, and inspiring audiences for more than 85 years. Parade is owned and operated by The Arena Group Holdings, Inc (NYSE American: AREN), a brand, data and IP company that builds, acquires and scales high-performing digital assets. Arena combines technology, storytelling, and entrepreneurship to create deep content verticals that engage passionate audiences across sports & leisure, lifestyle, and finance. Through their portfolio of owned and operated brands including Parade, TheStreet, Men’s Journal, Athlon Sports, and more, they deliver trusted content and meaningful experiences to millions of users each month. Visit thearenagroup.net to learn more.

About Steller: Steller, headquartered in Kirkland, Wash., is the market-leading travel planning platform that guides travelers from inspiration to planning and booking through authentic experiences of their favorite creators. Steller’s patent-pending platform distributes millions of pieces of bespoke, worldwide video content that can be found and booked on the Steller app. Learn more at www.steller.co and stellerforbusiness.com.

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SQAIRZ Launches SQAIRZ Medical

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New Division Introduces the First Integrated Balance & Stability Platform to Help Combat Fall Risk and Support Lifelong Movement, Vitality and Independence

WINDHAM, N.H., Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SQAIRZ, the biomechanically driven performance footwear company built on the belief that performance starts where you stand, today announced the launch of SQAIRZ Medical, extending the company’s expertise in stability and human movement into one of the most significant health challenges facing an aging population: fall risk and the loss of mobility, vitality and independence that can follow.

At the center of the new division is SENTRX™ purpose-built Balance & Stability footwear engineered from the ground up by SQAIRZ to help create a more stable foundation for everyday movement. In addition, SQAIRZ Medical has developed a holistic clinical framework designed to provide a critical continuum of support.

That framework integrates a Balance & Stability Protocol that connects objective fall-risk assessment, SQAIRZ’s biomechanically engineered footwear, individualized clinical intervention, and ongoing outcomes tracking into a single approach that optimizes support at every stage of the balance and stability journey.

The need is urgent. One in four U.S. adults over age 65 falls at least once every year. For adults over 80, the risk increases to one in two. Fall-related injuries account for more than $80 billion in annual U.S. healthcare spending, while also diminishing an individual’s ability to fully engage in the relationships and experiences that define quality of life.

“For more than a decade, SQAIRZ has studied the relationship between the ground, the foot, stability and human performance,” said Bob Winskowicz, Founder and CEO of SQAIRZ. “SQAIRZ Medical represents the next evolution of that work. We believe that better stability should not only help an athlete perform better. It can help people continue living better. Our goal is to identify risk earlier, provide meaningful intervention and help people maintain the movement, confidence and independence that make a full life possible.”

Beyond the Shoe: A Complete Solution

The SQAIRZ Medical approach begins with a simple premise: you cannot effectively address a risk you have not first measured.

Through the SQAIRZ Balance & Stability Program, healthcare providers can use Kinetisense® Risk of Fall and Gait Assessment technology to perform a rapid 3D movement assessment that evaluates walking speed, stride pattern, body sway, compensatory movement and an individual’s fall-risk percentage.

Those insights help inform an individualized stability plan. The SQAIRZ clinical pathway is designed around escalating levels of intervention based on identified risk, ranging from neuromuscular education and baseline guidance for lower-risk patients to appropriate orthopedic solutions.

That includes SENTRX, purpose-built balance and stability footwear engineered with a wider natural base of support, a toe box that allows the toes to spread naturally for better balance, and a high-traction outsole that helps maintain connection with the ground; and, where appropriate, Thrive Orthopedics lateral or anterior AFO bracing. Follow-up testing and outcomes tracking allow providers to reassess patients over time.

Integrates into Clinical Care

SQAIRZ Medical is being developed around the realities of clinical adoption, patient access and reimbursement.

For patients whose assessment indicates a greater need for stabilization, the SQAIRZ clinical pathway incorporates Thrive Orthopedics AFO solutions, including pathways identified in SQAIRZ materials under L1952 and L1933. The broader program is supported with provider education, treatment-pathway guidance, documentation tools, chart-note templates and letters of medical necessity.

SQAIRZ patient materials indicate that SENTRX footwear may be covered through Medicare, depending on patient qualification and coverage. Patients may also have HSA/FSA payment options.

The goal is to create a Balance & Stability solution that can live not only in consumer commerce, but inside real patient-provider workflows.

Built with Medical Expertise

The development of SQAIRZ Medical is supported by a multidisciplinary Medical Advisory Board spanning orthopedics, podiatry, physical therapy, biomechanics, sports medicine and movement science.

The advisory group includes physicians, surgeons, podiatrists, physical therapists, researchers and biomechanics experts with experience across leading medical institutions, professional sports and clinical practice. Their role extends beyond product endorsement, helping inform clinical protocols, research priorities, provider education and the continued development of evidence-based approaches to balance and stability.

“In podiatry and sports medicine, we see every day how much the relationship between the foot and the ground influences balance, confidence and movement,” said Dr. Paul Klutts, DPM, Director of Fellowship for Kentucky and Indiana Foot and Ankle. “What is compelling about SQAIRZ Medical is that it approaches stability as a system: measure risk, create a stronger foundation at the foot and connect that intervention to ongoing clinical care. SENTRX is designed to make that foundation part of everyday life.”

“Fall risk is not a single-variable problem, and it should not be addressed with a single-variable solution,” said Dr. Larry Benz, PT, DPT, OCS, MBA, MAPP, FAPTA, Founder and CEO of Confluent Health. “The opportunity with SQAIRZ Medical is to connect objective assessment, footwear, individualized intervention and outcomes tracking in a way that can fit within the continuum of care. That kind of integrated approach can help clinicians move from reacting to falls toward identifying and addressing risk earlier.”

From Performance Footwear to Performance throughout Life

SQAIRZ Medical represents a natural expansion of the company’s original mission.

SQAIRZ was founded on the belief that performance starts where you stand. Across golf, baseball, softball and pickleball, the company has focused on the relationship between the ground, the foot, stability and human movement. SQAIRZ Medical applies that same foundational thinking to a different stage of life.

“People don’t wake up wanting a stability shoe. They want to keep doing the things they love. They want another walk with their spouse, another vacation, another birthday, another afternoon with their grandchildren. They want to remain active, vital and independent for as long as possible,” Winskowicz said. “That is what we mean by SQAIRZ FOR LIFE. From helping an athlete perform to helping someone maintain their movement and independence as they age, we want SQAIRZ to be The Foundation of Human Movement throughout every stage of life.”

About SQAIRZ

SQAIRZ is a biomechanically driven performance footwear company founded on the principle that performance starts where you stand. Through footwear engineered to enhance stability, ground connection and movement, SQAIRZ serves athletes across golf, baseball, softball, pickleball and now consumers through SQAIRZ Medical. For more information, visit SQAIRZ.com or SQAIRZMedical.com.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sqairz-launches-sqairz-medical-302874411.html

SOURCE SQAIRZ

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MHK and MCG Partner to Connect Evidence-Based Clinical Guidance with Standards-Based Prior Authorization

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New integration to help health plans streamline prior authorization and prepare for CMS-0057-F compliance

SEATTLE, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MCG Health, part of the Hearst Health network and the industry’s source of truth for trusted clinical guidance, announces a newly certified integration with MHK, a leading healthcare technology provider and a sibling Hearst Health company. The new integration connects the MCG Path interoperability solution directly with the MHK CareProminence prior authorization workflow, helping health plans streamline authorization processes while supporting standards-based interoperability required by the CMS Interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule (CMS-0057-F).

The prior authorization process has historically required healthcare providers and health plans to navigate separate clinical, documentation, and administrative requirements. When required clinical information is not clearly identified at the point of request, submissions may be incomplete, resulting in requests for additional information, manual follow-up, longer review cycles, and ultimately, delayed care for members. Simultaneously, health plans seek to balance adapting their current utilization management workflows to the evolution of standards-based interoperability.

The new MHK CareProminence and MCG Path integration brings highly trusted clinical guidance and documentation requirements directly into the authorization workflow, connecting capabilities that have traditionally operated as separate steps. Using HL7® Da Vinci Project burden reduction standards – including Coverage Requirements Discovery (CRD), Documentation Templates and Rules (DTR), and Prior Authorization Support (PAS) – the integration surfaces evidence-based MCG clinical indications and structured documentation requirements at the point of a prior authorization request.

The integration is designed to help health plans:

Support evidence-based decision-making by incorporating the nationally recognized MCG care guidelines into the prior authorization workflowReduce administrative burden by helping providers identify and submit required clinical documentation earlier in the processPromote more consistent reviews by making structured clinical requirements available within existing workflowsAdvance interoperability readiness by supporting HL7 Da Vinci standards associated with CMS-0057-F API requirements that are primarily due January 1, 2027

One of the first to utilize the MHK-MCG integration will be Mountain Pacific, a multi-state nonprofit organization with a long history of innovation and healthcare quality improvement.

“We’re excited to integrate MHK CareProminence and MCG into our medical necessity review process for prior authorization as part of our continued commitment to modernizing healthcare delivery,” said Jill Alessi, Chief Executive Officer at Mountain Pacific. “By connecting trusted, nationally recognized, evidence-based clinical guidelines with clearer documentation requirements, this integration has the potential to reduce administrative burden, streamline the review process, facilitate timely care, strengthen collaboration, and support a more efficient experience for providers and their patients.”

“Prior authorization works best when clinical guidance, documentation requirements, and the authorization workflow are connected rather than operating as separate steps,” said Carol Helton, COO of MHK. “Bringing MCG’s trusted clinical guidance directly into CareProminence enables health plans to simplify that process while giving providers clearer information at the point of request. Equally important, this integration gives our customers a practical path toward the standards-based interoperability required under CMS-0057-F.”

“We’re seeing tremendous momentum for MCG Path as health plans across the country prepare for the next era of interoperable prior authorization,” said Jon Shreve, President and CEO of MCG Health. “Our partnership with MHK is a critical part of that progress, bringing the trust of MCG directly into the workflows health plans already use. Together, we’re driving more confident decisions that help patients get the right care.”

The certified MHK-MCG interoperability integration is currently available to health plans, and demonstrations can be requested via the MHK and MCG websites at mhk.com/contact/schedule-a-demo/ or mcg.com/contact-us/schedule-a-demo/.

About MCG Health

MCG, part of the Hearst Health network, is the trusted source of truth for clinical guidance in the healthcare industry. MCG combines evidence-based guidelines and analytics with artificial intelligence to guide efficient and accurate clinical decisions. MCG solutions are licensed by a vast majority of health plans, thousands of hospitals, and many state and federal government agencies to drive quality health outcomes while controlling costs. For more information, visit mcg.com.

About MHK

MHK, formerly MedHOK, is a leading provider of healthcare SaaS solutions for health plans, pharmacy benefit managers, and provider-sponsored organizations. MHK’s platforms support utilization management, case management, population health, pharmacy management, enrollment, and compliance. Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., MHK partners with payers nationwide to optimize operations, improve outcomes, and deliver superior member experiences. For more information, visit mhk.com.

About Mountain Pacific

Established in 1973, Mountain Pacific has decades of experience collaborating with healthcare professionals, consumers and communities across multiple states to deliver innovative solutions. Through federal, state and commercial funding and partnerships, Mountain Pacific brings national public health priorities to the local level to achieve better health outcomes, lower costs, greater access to high-quality care and improved patient experiences. Learn more at mountainpacific.org.

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SOURCE MCG Health

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NuxGame Heads to SBC Summit Lisbon 2026 With Its Full Ecosystem and a Seat on the Compliance Stage

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LIMASSOL, Cyprus, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — NuxGame, a B2B iGaming software provider, will take part in SBC Summit Lisbon 2026, held from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa. The team will be based at Stand A326 in Hall 1, the event’s Networking Lounge sponsored by NuxGame, where operators can sit down with senior staff from the product and commercial teams.

From Software Provider to Open Ecosystem

The timing suits where the business now stands. NuxGame began in 2018 as a software provider for operators launching their first projects, and today it runs an open ecosystem built around operator growth. Lisbon is one of the few occasions in the year when all of it can be seen in one place, by the people who would use it day to day.

What Operators Will See at Stand A326

Across the three days, the team will walk operators through the NuxGame Ecosystem in full:

An award-winning turnkey casino and sportsbook platform.

A game aggregator with 18,500+ titles from 140+ providers.

Sweepstakes-ready infrastructure.

A vetted network of partners covering CRM, payments, orchestration, and traffic.

That last part saves time. Instead of assessing vendors market by market, operators plug into partners already working in the regions they are entering, with the software underneath coming from a single provider. It is all backed by a service team whose client satisfaction has averaged 4.8 out of 5 over the past six months.

Denis Kosinsky on the Compliance Tech Stage

On Thursday, Oct. 1, NuxGame Chief Product Officer Denis Kosinsky will join the panel “Closing the Loopholes: How to Combat Bonus Abuse” on the Regulation & Compliance stage, part of the summit’s new Compliance Tech track. The session looks at how operators can recognize evolving patterns of bonus exploitation and keep promotional spend flowing to the players it was designed for.

“A bonus budget is one of the most powerful growth tools an operator has, and it works best when the money reaches genuine players. The instinct is to tighten the rules for everyone, but that’s like locking the whole building because one window doesn’t shut. Better to find the window. When you can see clearly how a promotion is actually being used, you close that one gap and leave the offer generous for everybody else.”

— Denis Kosinsky, Chief Product Officer at NuxGame

Book a Meeting in Lisbon

“Lisbon is where a lot of operators decide what their next year looks like. We wanted a space where those conversations can happen properly, with the platform, the content, and the partner network all in the room at once. Twenty minutes with the right people will tell you more than three months of comparing suppliers on paper.”

— Daniel Heywood, Chief Executive Officer at NuxGame

Operators, affiliates, and partners attending the summit can book a meeting with the NuxGame team in advance, or stop by Stand A326 in Hall 1 on any of the three days.

About NuxGame

NuxGame is a B2B iGaming company founded in 2018 that has grown from a software provider into an open ecosystem for operator growth. It combines an award-winning casino and sportsbook platform, a game aggregator with 18,500+ titles from 140+ providers, sweepstakes-ready infrastructure, and a vetted network of partners covering CRM, payments, orchestration, and traffic, supporting 100+ operators worldwide as they launch, scale, and enter new markets. In 2026, NuxGame was named Casino Platform of the Year at the iGaming News Awards. Visit https://nuxgame.com/ for more information and inquiries.

Media Contact: Yanina Kaplya, CMO at NuxGame, info@nuxgame.com

Original Source: https://nuxgame.com/blog/nuxgame-sbc-summit-lisbon-2026

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SOURCE NuxGame

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