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PBS Western Reserve & Ideastream Public Media Announce Merger to Strengthen the Future of Public Media Across Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania

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Long-time partners join forces, retaining staff and sustaining programming across the region

KENT, Ohio and CLEVELAND, Sept. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — PBS Western Reserve and Ideastream Public Media today announced that their boards have approved an agreement to merge, creating a combined public media organization serving more than 4 million people across Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.

“At a time of growing pressures for public media organizations nationwide, this is about taking action now to protect something that matters deeply to the communities we serve,” said Kevin Martin, President & CEO, Ideastream Public Media. “Despite losing a combined $4 million in annual federal funds, both PBS Western Reserve and Ideastream Public Media are strong today. We believe we can be even stronger together in the future.”

This agreement follows a comprehensive due diligence process, undertaken by both organizations in the wake of the July 2025 federal elimination of Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) funding, reductions in state-level public media funding, rising operating costs, and broader uncertainty around future public funding priorities. That process led to today’s determination that coming together now is the best way to ensure long-term effectiveness of public media across every part of the region.

Continuity Across the Combined Organization

PBS Western Reserve and Ideastream Public Media bring a long history of collaboration to the merger, sharing a commitment to local and national news, educational programming, and cultural content.

“For years, our organizations have worked alongside one another with a common belief in the value of public media and the responsibility to serve the people and places that count on us,” said Natalie Pillsbury, President & CEO, PBS Western Reserve. “This merger builds on that history and gives us an opportunity to bring our people, experience, and resources together to make our work even stronger.”

That commitment to strength and stability extends across the organization. No layoffs are planned as a result of the merger, and the organizations intend to retain all existing staff. The two existing boards will join, ensuring consistent representation from across the region.

Moving forward, Pillsbury will become Chief Content Officer at Ideastream Public Media, succeeding the organization’s retiring Chief Content Officer. The role’s responsibilities will expand under the combined organization to include strategic oversight of programming and content. Pillsbury brings more than a decade of experience in public media to the position, including prior roles at Ideastream Public Media and WKSU. Martin will remain President & CEO of Ideastream Public Media, a role he has held since 2017.

On the programming side, local and cultural programming, local news coverage, and educational services will continue without interruption across the organizations’ NPR and PBS affiliations, including three television stations, WVIZ, WNEO, and WEAO, along with NPR programming on WKSU and classical and jazz music on WCLV and JazzNEO.

A Stronger Future for Public Media

The merger creates a public media footprint spanning Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Youngstown, and Western Pennsylvania, from the region’s largest urban population centers to its small, rural communities. Over time, the combined organization’s greater capacity could create opportunities to expand educational offerings and locally relevant storytelling, invest in new technologies, and find new ways to connect with audiences throughout the region.

Both organizations are working collaboratively to finalize the transaction, starting with filing for the license transfer with the FCC and completing a merger filing with the State of Ohio. Existing licenses, branding, call letters, and locations will remain in place throughout the closing period. Once the transaction is complete, it is anticipated that the combined organization will operate under the Ideastream Public Media name.

Additional information about the merger, including FAQs, can be found on the websites for www.ideastream.org/merger and www.pbswesternreserve.org/merger.

About PBS Western Reserve

PBS Western Reserve is a community organization that empowers Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania through the impact of accessible public media and educational services to foster connection and lifelong learning. PBS Western Reserve presents cultural, scientific and artistic programming for awareness and enjoyment; local storytelling and access to trusted regional, state and national public affairs; experiential opportunities and community outreach for people of all ages; and educational initiatives that support the healthy development of youth. 

PBS Western Reserve is made up of two separately licensed public television stations (WNEO and WEAO) and an Educational Services division operating under one 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, Northeastern Educational Television of Ohio Inc. (NETO). WNEO was established in 1971, is licensed to the city of Alliance and serves the Youngstown designated television market. WEAO went on the air in 1975, is licensed to the city of Akron and serves the Cleveland-Akron-Canton designated television market. All programming is simulcast on both stations.

About Ideastream Public Media

Ideastream Public Media serves as Ohio’s largest independent, publicly supported media organization. Ideastream is the home of Northeast Ohio’s PBS, NPR, and classical and jazz music public broadcasting stations: WVIZ, WKSU, WCLV and JazzNEO. Free programs and services are made available to 3.6 million people in 22 counties across radio, TV, and digital platforms, meeting the communities we serve where and when they need us.

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SOURCE PBS Western Reserve and Ideastream Public Media

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Arcjet Launches Agent Runtime Security for Production AI Agents

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New product helps teams discover agent activity, apply controls before and after consequential actions, and preserve evidence for security reviews and compliance

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Arcjet, the security platform that ships in your AI code, today launched agent runtime security, a new product that helps engineering teams secure the AI agents they are building while giving security teams the governance and compliance evidence they need. Arcjet brings observability, enforcement, and audit capabilities across agent workflows so teams can discover which agents are running, control what they can do, and understand what happened and why.

AI agents are moving beyond chat interfaces and into production workflows, where they can read and write to databases, respond to support tickets, refund payments, call tools and APIs, and take other actions on behalf of users. Those workflows can start from a chat interface, an email, a text message, a code commit, or another event, and can continue autonomously across multiple systems.

As agents take on longer-running workflows, security teams need to answer three questions across the full sequence of activity, which agents are running, whether a particular action should be allowed, and what happened and why.

Arcjet’s agent runtime security addresses those questions through observe, enforce, and audit capabilities. Teams can discover agent activity and connect actions across sessions, apply deterministic security policies before and after calls to LLMs, tools, databases, and APIs, and preserve the execution context needed for security reviews and compliance.

“Agents are now taking real actions inside production systems, which means security teams need to know which agents are operating and what they have done, and apply controls at machine speed,” said David Mytton, CEO at Arcjet. “A risky outcome can develop across a series of steps that look perfectly reasonable on their own. Arcjet connects those steps and gives teams policy controls to detect them.”

Arcjet’s agent runtime security centers on three parts of securing agents in production, observe, enforce, and audit.

Observe: Discover all your agents

Arcjet supports ingesting agent activity without application code changes or deploying another agent. Platform and security teams can use existing OpenTelemetry observability tooling to send activity directly to Arcjet for real-time visualization and analysis. For teams using Claude, Arcjet can also pull activity from the Claude Compliance API.

Arcjet connects activity across sessions so teams can see an agent’s sequence of actions as one workflow rather than a collection of unrelated events. Activity can include prompts, tool call parameters, session metadata, identity, security decisions, and other application context, giving teams a view of what each agent is doing across a run.

Agent identity and inventory are part of that visibility. Arcjet gives teams an inventory of the agents and applications operating inside their environment, with activity and individual runs associated with each agent so teams can inspect actions and security decisions step by step.

Enforce: Apply controls before and after every action

Once teams can see their agents and activity across sessions, Arcjet lets security teams define controls for prompt injection detection, PII and sensitive information leak prevention and redaction, automation and bot detection, rate limits, and quota controls. Arcjet guards apply deterministic policies to tools, APIs, database calls, and other inputs and outputs. Powered by Rego and Open Policy Agent, teams can create versioned, immutable policies through Arcjet’s web UI, API, CLI, or MCP without redeploying application code.

Policies can define the actions an agent is allowed to take, such as restricting recipients or attachments in an email tool, setting acceptable bounds for refund values, or limiting web fetch tools to trusted API URLs. Arcjet returns a decision to the application before the action executes, allowing the application to stop the operation, request human approval, or return an explanation to the agent. Applied before and after calls to LLMs, tools, databases, and APIs, these controls can mitigate risk before consequential actions and verify results before the workflow continues.

For enforcement, Arcjet has native integrations with major agent frameworks, including Claude Agents SDK, Claude Managed Agents, OpenAI Agents SDK, LangChain, LangFuse, Strands, Mastra, and Microsoft’s Agent Framework. This in-code context allows Arcjet to track recorded actions, their inputs, and policy decisions across the workflow.

Audit: Evidence and proof of compliance

Arcjet collects the context of each execution so teams can reconstruct what happened, understand why a policy decision was made, and provide evidence for security reviews and compliance audits. Correlated traces preserve actions, inputs, security decisions, and policy evaluations across the work

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/arcjet-launches-agent-runtime-security-for-production-ai-agents-302882668.html

SOURCE Arcjet

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The live music industry still largely runs on spreadsheets and email threads. ABOSS is the operating system.

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AMSTERDAM, Sept. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Let’s be honest. The live music industry still runs its operations across email threads and spreadsheets at large. Booking agencies, artists, managers and crews coordinate deals, contracts, logistics, and money through systems that were never designed to connect.

ABOSS spent the past decade building an operating system for live music, to solve this problem from a place of deep industry experience. Booking agencies, artists, and crews can manage their shows in one structured environment; from the back-office to center-stage. However, while the hustle is real and the front-end often catches the spotlight, the adoption of new technology in the back-end can move like a slow jam on a Sunday afternoon.

“After all those years, deals are still made on relationships, and they’re still being executed in chaos,” said Arvid Silos, founder of ABOSS. “If your data lives in inboxes and spreadsheets, you’re leaving margins on the table.”

ABOSS is built with structured collaboration, dealmaking and business logistics in mind across two environments on the same record. The Agency Platform is where booking agencies run deals, contracts, financial tracking, planning, and pre-production. Artist Pro is where artists and their teams access, review, and work on the same data. A true single source of truth solution.

That split is also the platform’s position on who owns the data. Operational information in live music has long sat with the agency, or been scattered across inboxes and spreadsheets. Agencies running on ABOSS are already offering artists a record they can own, access and control, while the agency continues to run the operation. The infrastructure has been there for a decade. However, hardly any artist or manager claims it: of the roughly $1 billion in deal value moving through ABOSS this year, artist-owned records cover about 4%.

A mobile application extends that record onto the road: schedules, travel, and ops, available offline, with summaries. Records are exposed through an open API to empower a new layer of specialized workflows and integrations to improve the live music stack.

SAPPS AI, offering platform-agnostic AI-native micro-apps for live music, is one of those layers that recognizes the power of ABOSS as a system of data supply. AI Models need data that is substantial, owned, structured, secure, and current, contextualized to specific business cases. AI does not replace architecture. That’s where ABOSS turns admin into a commercial opportunity in the age of AI.

It’s one thing to jump on the AI hypetrain, it’s another thing to diligently navigate it, nurturing trust and strongholding this promise ABOSS built the operating system for live music on; to elevate the way we all work in music.

About ABOSS: ABOSS is the operating system for live music. Booking agencies, artists, managers and crews use it to collaboratively manage deals, contracts, finances, logistics and more in a shared environment. https://abossmusic.com

About SAPPS: SAPPS is a platform-agnostic AI-native intelligence layer for the live music industry: specialized applications that connect across systems music businesses already run. https://sapps.ai

Representative: Arvid Silos
Contact: press@a-boss.net
Address: Amsterdam, NH, The Netherlands

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Rasmussen University to Celebrate Approximately 6,200 Graduates at its Minnesota Commencement Ceremony

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Graduates from 32 states and Washington, D.C., to gather in St. Paul for Rasmussen University’s final 2026 commencement celebration

ST. PAUL, Minn., Sept. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Rasmussen University part of American Public University System (Rasmussen) will celebrate the achievements of nearly 6,200 graduates during its 2026 Minnesota Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 11 a.m. at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul, MN, as well as online. The graduates completed their programs during the past year, representing the Classes of 2025 and 2026.

The Minnesota ceremony marks the third and final commencement celebration for Rasmussen University in 2026, following ceremonies in Illinois in April and Florida in June. Graduates have completed programs across eight areas of study, including nursing, health sciences, business, education, human services, justice studies, design and technology, offered at 20 Rasmussen campuses and online.

“Rasmussen University has a proud tradition of preparing students for careers that strengthen our communities and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others,” said Angela Selden, chancellor of American Public University System. “As part of American Public University System, Rasmussen University advances our shared mission to empower students through education to transform lives, advance careers, and serve their communities.”

Graduates registered to attend the ceremony in person represent 32 states and Washington, D.C., reflecting the national reach of Rasmussen University and its commitment to accessible, career-focused education. Nearly 20% are earning their second or additional degree from Rasmussen, highlighting Rasmussen’s commitment to lifelong learning and supporting students as they continue to advance their education and careers.

“Throughout our three commencement celebrations this year, we’ve had the privilege of hearing countless stories of resilience and purpose,” said Dr. Carrie Daninhirsch, provost at Rasmussen University. “In Illinois, Nursing graduate Beatrice Agbayewa pursued a career she loves after being inspired by a friend, persevering through health challenges along the way. In Florida, Human Services graduate and Navy veteran Brian Lange turned his own challenges finding his path after military service into a passion for helping other veterans rebuild their lives. As we gather here in St. Paul, where Rasmussen was founded more than 125 years ago, it’s especially meaningful to celebrate our final graduating class of 2026 and the next generation of graduates who will carry that legacy forward.”

Commencement Speakers

The ceremony will feature remarks from distinguished leaders and members of the Rasmussen University community who will share messages of perseverance, purpose and lifelong learning with the graduating class.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Cyrus Batheja

Dr. Cyrus Batheja, president and chief executive officer of Ecumen, will deliver the keynote address. Ecumen is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing innovative housing, healthcare and community-based services for older adults.

Batheja’s own educational journey was inspired by his mother, an immigrant who pursued nursing school while raising her family. Her determination shaped his path into nursing and healthcare leadership. In his keynote, he will reflect on the perseverance behind graduates’ achievements and encourage them to stay rooted in purpose, create opportunities for others and define success by how they live and serve their communities.

Prior to joining Ecumen, Batheja held senior leadership positions with UnitedHealthcare and Optum, including serving as national vice president of nursing at OptumRx, where he led more than 1,500 nurses delivering critical therapies across the United States. He is also co-founder of Batheja Supportive Living Services, serves on the Board of Regents at Augsburg University and was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 2022.

Graduate Speaker: Tykeishah Todd

Tykeishah Todd, a September 2026 Master of Healthcare Administration graduate, will represent the graduating class as its graduate speaker. A dedicated healthcare professional and mother of two, Todd is also a returning Rasmussen University graduate, having earned her Human Services degree from Rasmussen in 2022.

Throughout her Rasmussen journey, Todd has balanced her education, career and family responsibilities while continuing to pursue her professional goals. She currently serves as a supervisor in family medicine, where she leads with a passion for supporting her team and improving the patient experience. While pursuing her master’s degree, she also earned two career promotions.

Todd’s journey reflects the resilience and perseverance of Rasmussen graduates. In her Commencement message, she will encourage graduates to give themselves grace, embrace their individual journeys and remember that setbacks do not define their potential. She will share how earning her degree represents healing, growth and rewriting her story.

Alumni Speaker: Kimberley Wilde

Kimberley Wilde, a 2022 Rasmussen University graduate, will return to the Commencement stage as the alumni speaker and help lead Rasmussen’s Alumni Pinning Ceremony.

Wilde earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Management online from Rasmussen University after previously earning her Associate of Science degree from Rasmussen. She currently serves as a senior business analyst at Mayo Clinic.

As a first-generation college graduate, Wilde returned to school as an adult learner while balancing a full-time career and raising her two daughters. For Wilde, earning her degree represented not only a personal accomplishment, but also an opportunity to demonstrate to her daughters the importance of education and that it is never too late to pursue a goal.

During her own Commencement celebration in 2022, Wilde was selected to represent her class as the graduate speaker. She now returns as a proud alum to welcome the newest graduates into Rasmussen University’s lifelong alumni community.

The Alumni Pinning Ceremony is a special Rasmussen University tradition symbolizing graduates’ transition from students to alumni and their entry into a community that will remain connected long after Commencement.

To learn more about Rasmussen University’s 2026 commencement ceremonies, visit:
Rasmussen University Commencement Information

About Rasmussen University:
Rasmussen University part of American Public University System (Rasmussen), combines a rich history of educational excellence with the strength of a system dedicated to preparing students for service-oriented careers. The System is committed to enriching communities by delivering innovative, career-focused education and maintaining a longstanding commitment to preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals. The System offers undergraduate and graduate programs online and across 20 Rasmussen campuses nationwide in eight areas of study, including nursing, health sciences, business, technology, and social services. Since 1900, Rasmussen has been creating opportunities, transforming lives, and strengthening communities through student-centered education that prepares graduates for in-demand careers. Learn more at www.Rasmussen.edu.

About American Public University System:
American Public University System (the System), provides postsecondary education that transforms lives, advances careers, and improves communities. With over 109,000 students and 250,000 alumni worldwide, the System includes American Military University (AMU), American Public University (APU), Rasmussen University, and Hondros College of Nursing

The System is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) (www.hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Public Education, Inc. (Nasdaq: APEI).

Contact: Molly Andersen
Mobile: 903.920.4366
Email: molly.andersen@rasmussen.edu

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rasmussen-university-to-celebrate-approximately-6-200-graduates-at-its-minnesota-commencement-ceremony-302882670.html

SOURCE Rasmussen University

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