Smith Mountain Lake receives $225,000 for HABs testing
The Smith Mountain Lake Association joined with the Lake Anna Civic Association in requesting the budget to protect Virginia's freshwater lakes and rivers.
The funding will allow the Department of Environmental Quality with the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, to test inland waterways for the presence of harmful algal blooms (HABs).
Smith Mountain Lake water quality monitoring enters 39th year
This investment comes one year after the General Assembly approved the $150,000 budget to conduct analysis of HABs at SML. This work and data collection is in collaboration with Virginia Tech and SMLA.
'We thank Delegate Bulova, Senator Peake, Senator Reeves, and Senator Stuart for sponsoring the amendments,' said John Vidovich, SMLA President. 'SMLA appreciates the continued support from Governor Younkin and the General Assembly to help keep Smith Mountain Lake clean and safe.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Business Wire
29-07-2025
- Business Wire
Medincell Proposes Board Appointments of Industry Veterans Dr. Sharon Mates and Dr. Charles Kunsch
MONTPELLIER, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News: Medincell (Paris:MEDCL): Sharon Mates, PhD, is the co-founder and former Chair and CEO of Intra-Cellular Therapies, a CNS-focused biotech that developed the successful drug CAPLYTA ®, acquired by Johnson & Johnson for $14.6 billion in April 2025. Dr. Mates said: "Medincell is entering a new era and I'm excited to help shape its future. Its vision and achievements closely align with my passion for advancing medical innovation and delivering meaningful solutions for patients." Charles Kunsch, PhD, is a seasoned life sciences executive with over 30 years of experience, including as former Managing Director at AbbVie Ventures, where he led investments in pioneering biotech companies. Dr. Kunsch said: 'Throughout my career, I've seen how innovation and collaboration can transform bold ideas into meaningful impact. These values are deeply rooted at Medincell. They've already taken the company far and laid a strong foundation for a new phase of growth. I'm excited to contribute my experience to support the executive team and fellow board members in driving the company's continued success.' These nominations aim to further strengthen the expertise of Medincell's Board of Directors, which currently includes: Philippe Guy (Chairman) - Former Head of BCG's Global Health Care Practice and member of BCG's Worldwide Executive Committee Christophe Douat - CEO of Medincell Elisabeth Kogan - CEO of Clexio Bioscience, former SVP at Teva where she led global generic and specialty R&D Tone Kvåle - CFO of Herantis Pharma, with over 25 years of biotech finance leadership Virginie Lleu - Senior Partner at WittKieffer, with over 30 years of experience in executive search for the pharmaceutical industry Pascal Touchon - Former Global Head of Cell & Gene Therapy at Novartis Oncology, CEO then Chairman of Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. Philippe Guy, Chairman of the Board of Medincell, said: 'The Board has made it a priority to strengthen its collective expertise in preparation for the future. The addition of Dr. Mates and Dr. Kunsch brings a wealth of experience in innovation, strategic vision, and influential networks. Their contributions will play a key role in reinforcing our leadership, expanding our impact, and creating lasting value.' Christophe Douat, CEO and Director of Medincell, said: 'The coming years will be the most transformative in Medincell's history. Sharon and Charles will bring invaluable experience and world-class expertise in science and innovation to our Board, as Medincell remains deeply committed to improving patients' lives.' The appointments of Dr. Mates and Dr. Kunsch, along with that of Pascal Touchon - who was previously appointed by Medincell's Board of Directors (see press release) - is subject to shareholder approval at the General Assembly to be held on September 11, 2025. About Dr. Mates Sharon Mates, Ph.D., co-founded Intra-Cellular Therapies in 2002 with Nobel Laureate Dr. Paul Greengard, building the company on his groundbreaking research into intracellular signaling to pioneer treatments for psychiatric and neurologic disorders. As Co-founder, Chairman and CEO, Dr. Mates led the development of CAPLYTA ® (lumateperone), a breakthrough therapy for schizophrenia and bipolar depression, with analysts projecting peak annual sales of up to $5 billion. Under her leadership, the company went public and grew to a market capitalization of over $10 billion before its acquisition by Johnson & Johnson for $14.6 billion in April 2025. Previously, for almost a decade, Dr. Mates served as President of North American Vaccine Inc., where she oversaw the development of pediatric vaccines. She holds a Ph.D. in anatomy and neuroscience and completed her postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. In addition to her scientific leadership as a research analyst and investment banker in the life sciences sector, she has co-founded several biotech companies and has sat on several non-profit boards. Dr. Mates was named to Forbes' '50 Over 50 – Innovation' list in recognition of her lasting impact on neuroscience and biotech innovation. About Dr. Kunsch Charles Kunsch, Ph.D., is a seasoned life sciences executive and investor with over 30 years of leadership in R&D, venture capital, and biotech innovation. He served as Managing Director at AbbVie Ventures, where he led investments in manyhigh-impact biotech companies including Prevail Therapeutics (acquired by Lilly) and Tidal Therapeutics (acquired by Sanofi) among others. Earlier in his career, he held senior scientific roles at AbbVie, AtheroGenics and Human Genome Sciences. Kunsch holds a Ph.D. in Immunology from Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and completed postdoctoral training at the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology. He currently serves as a Venture Partner at Dreavent Capital, Vice Chair of the Board at Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives, Board of Trustees of the Penn State Research Foundation, and is a board member at Captor Therapeutics, Antiverse and NextRNA. About Medincell Medincell is a clinical and commercial-stage biopharmaceutical licensing company developing long-acting injectable drugs in many therapeutic areas. Our innovative treatments aim to guarantee compliance with medical prescriptions, to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of medicines, and to reduce their environmental footprint. They combine active pharmaceutical ingredients with our proprietary BEPO ® technology which controls the delivery of a drug at a therapeutic level for several days, weeks or months from the subcutaneous or local injection of a simple deposit of a few millimeters, entirely bioresorbable. We collaborate with leading pharmaceutical companies and foundations to improve global health through new treatment options. Based in Montpellier, Medincell currently employs more than 140 people representing more than 25 different nationalities. This press release may contain forward-looking statements, particularly concerning the progress of the Company's clinical trials. Although the Company considers that its forecasts are based on reasonable assumptions, any statements other than statements of historical fact that may be contained in this press release relating to future events are subject to change without notice, to factors beyond the Company's control and to the Company's financial capabilities. These statements may include, but are not limited to, any statements beginning with, followed by or including words or expressions such as "objective", "believe", "expect", "aim", "intend", "may", "anticipate", "estimate", "plan", "project", "will", "may", "probably", "should", "could" and other words or expressions of similar meaning or used in the negative. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from those anticipated or implied by such statements. A list and description of such risks, hazards and uncertainties can be found in the documents filed by the Company with the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) pursuant to its regulatory obligations, including in the Company's document de base, registered with the AMF on September 4, 2018 under number I. 18-062, as well as in documents and reports to be published subsequently by the Company. Furthermore, these forward-looking statements only apply as of the date of this press release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements, nor to update the reasons why actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available. The Company's updating of one or more forward-looking statements does not imply that it will or will not update these or any other forward-looking statements. This press release is published for information purposes only. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for securities of the Company in any jurisdiction whatsoever, particularly in France. Similarly, this press release does not constitute investment advice and should not be treated as such. It is not intended to address the investment objectives, financial situation or specific needs of any particular recipient. It should not be relied upon as a substitute for the exercise of your own judgement. All opinions expressed in this document are subject to change without notice. The distribution of this press release may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Persons into whose possession this press release comes are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.
Yahoo
25-07-2025
- Yahoo
Palestinians are ‘walking corpses' says UN, as Starmer calls starvation ‘unspeakable and indefensible'
Palestinians are beginning to resemble 'walking corpses', a United Nations official said on Thursday as Sir Keir Starmer called the starvation unfolding in Gaza 'unspeakable and indefensible'. Humanitarian workers in the territory are seeing children who are 'emaciated, weak and at high risk of dying' without urgent treatment, said Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UNRWA relief agency. The prime minister is due to hold an emergency call with France and Germany on Friday to push for aid – and a ceasefire. 'We are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe,' he said. 'The suffering and starvation unfolding in Gaza is unspeakable and indefensible. While the situation has been grave for some time, it has reached new depths and continues to worsen.' Sir Keir's comments came just hours before French president Emmanuel Macron announced that France will recognise Palestinian statehood in September at the United Nations General Assembly. The number of people starving in Gaza is reported to have increased dramatically in recent days; most of the 113 hunger-related deaths recorded there so far have occurred in recent weeks, and 82 of those who have died were children, according to Palestinian health officials. Israel has imposed heavy restrictions on the amount of food and aid allowed to enter the territory, limiting aid to a handful of trucks each day following an 11-week total blockade earlier this year. UN officials say the aid delivered into the strip is a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed. 'We all agree on the pressing need for Israel to change course and allow the aid that is desperately needed to enter Gaza without delay,' Sir Keir said. Mr Lazzarini said a UNRWA worker had described people in Gaza as 'neither dead nor alive – they are walking corpses'. He said the agency has the equivalent of 6,000 loaded trucks of food and medical supplies in Jordan and Egypt, which have not yet been allowed into the territory. 'Families are no longer coping: they are breaking down, unable to survive. Their existence is threatened,' he said. Israeli forces have killed hundreds of Palestinians who were attempting to secure food from a limited number of aid trucks. The killings have drawn widespread condemnation, including from many of Israel's own allies. As more than 100 human rights groups and charities demanded in a letter on Wednesday that more aid be allowed in, Palestinians living in Gaza said they had been forced to trade personal items, such as gold jewellery, for flour. 'We are living in hunger and daily suffering, as prices have risen in an insane way that no Gazan citizen, whether employed or unemployed, can bear, in a way that is beyond comprehension,' said Wajih al-Najjar, 70, from Gaza City, the breadwinner for a family of 13. 'People are forced to go to death in search of some aid,' he told The Independent, lamenting the exorbitant price of flour, which he says has shot up from 35 shekels (£7.74) to up to 180 shekels (£39.80) per kilo. Mr Najjar, who has lost one quarter of his bodyweight – dropping from 85kg to 62kg – said he cannot get a full meal for himself. 'So what about children who need food more than three times a day?' he said. Meanwhile, major broadcasters and news agencies, including the BBC and Reuters, issued a joint statement to say that their journalists on the ground in Gaza are also facing the 'threat of starvation'. 'We are desperately concerned for our journalists in Gaza, who are increasingly unable to feed themselves and their families,' it read. 'For many months, these independent journalists have been the world's eyes and ears on the ground in Gaza. They are now facing the same dire circumstances as those they are covering. 'Journalists endure many deprivations and hardships in war zones. We are deeply alarmed that the threat of starvation is now one of them.' Prices continue to rise beyond control, and food scarcity has soared to an unprecedented level in the Gaza Strip, in the 21st month of a destructive Israeli invasion and bombardment that Palestinian health officials say has killed more than 60,000 people. The war and invasion began on 7 October 2023 in response to attacks perpetrated on Israel by Hamas militants, who killed 1,200 people and captured at least 250 hostages. Ihab Abdullah, a 43-year-old university lecturer who is the breadwinner for nine family members, said that every night before he goes to sleep, he asks: 'How will I provide for my children today? I can bear the hunger, but what about my children?' 'We have become unable to buy or find food in the markets. We live in daily hunger, because the most needed commodity, flour, is not available in sufficient quantities. We are in a situation where we cannot buy food, even if we have money. Those who have money and those who do not have money are the same. Purchasing value has disappeared.' Younis Abu Odeh, a 32-year-old who is displaced in Gaza, says he feels as if Palestinians have been 'put on a chicken farm and starved'. 'We are living through a war of extermination, famine, and psychological warfare,' Mr Odeh told The Independent. 'A war of displacement, a war of tents, a war of heat and sun.' The Israeli government insists it is not causing a famine. Spokesperson David Mencer said that the 'manmade shortage' of food has been 'engineered by Hamas'. Mr Mencer said on Wednesday that more than 4,400 aid trucks had entered Gaza between 19 and 22 July, containing food, flour and baby food. The deepening crisis came as Israel brought its delegation home from the Gaza ceasefire talks on Thursday after Hamas delivered a new response to a proposal for a truce and a hostages deal. The Israeli prime minister's office thanked mediators for their efforts and said the negotiators were returning home for 'further consultations'. Earlier it said Israel was reviewing the response from Hamas. In his statement, Sir Keir said: 'It is hard to see a hopeful future in such dark times. But I must reiterate my call for all sides to engage in good faith, and at pace, to bring about an immediate ceasefire, and for Hamas to unconditionally release all hostages. We strongly support the efforts of the US, Qatar and Egypt to secure this. 'We are clear that statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people. A ceasefire will put us on a path to the recognition of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution, which guarantees peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis.'
Chicago Tribune
14-07-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Ald. Brian Hopkins: If Springfield won't act on dangerous hemp products, Chicago must
Last month, the Tribune Editorial Board rightly sounded the alarm on the flood of unregulated, intoxicating hemp products being sold in gas stations, smoke shops and convenience stores across Illinois. These products — many of which are chemically altered, highly potent and dangerously mislabeled — are being marketed and sold directly to children using cartoon packaging, candy flavors and zero safety guardrails. The packaging may mimic well-known snack brands and the products are readily accessible on store counters with no checks of identification and no guidance on safe use. This is not just a matter of regulatory oversight — it's a public health crisis in the making. And once again, the Illinois General Assembly has failed to do anything about it. Despite bipartisan proposals to bring order to this Wild West marketplace, Springfield ended its legislative session without passing even the most basic consumer protections, testing requirements or age restrictions. There was no movement on setting limits for THC potency, no requirement to test for contamination and no mandate to keep these products out of the hands of minors. This wasn't just a missed opportunity — it was a blatant dereliction of duty. And it's left cities such as Chicago to deal with the fallout. But there should be no confusion. This failure lies squarely with the legislature — not the governor. Gov. JB Pritzker has been vocal about the public health and consumer protection dangers these products pose and has advocated for strong, sensible regulation. Unfortunately, his leadership was not matched by action in the General Assembly. Even more troubling, the lack of support from some municipal leaders has undermined those efforts and sent mixed messages to lawmakers. These synthetic and intoxicating hemp-derived products have no place in our neighborhoods. We cannot allow an opaque, unregulated industry to profit off the endangerment of our children — especially under the false pretense that these products are 'natural' or 'safe.' In reality, many of these products are manufactured with chemicals that have not been studied for human consumption. Others are sold with misleading dosage information or fail to disclose all ingredients. Parents often don't realize what their kids are buying until it's too late — and sometimes not even then. Other states have taken decisive action. As of this writing, around 40 states have passed laws or implemented rules targeting intoxicating hemp products. Several of those states have restricted or banned synthetic THC altogether. Even Kentucky, a state hardly known for overregulation, regulated delta-8 THC entirely due to its impact on youth. At the federal level, the Food and Drug Administration has issued repeated warnings about the dangers of chemically modified cannabinoids, and Congress is actively debating updates to the 2018 Farm Bill to close the loopholes that allowed this problem to spiral out of control in the first place. So, while Springfield drops the ball yet again, Chicago must act. We cannot afford to wait any longer. As chair of the City Council's Public Safety Committee, I am calling on my colleagues and Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration to move forward with urgency. We must take steps to protect our residents now. This is not a call to ban — it's a call for commonsense regulation. Right now, any store can sell intoxicating hemp products with no questions asked, no oversight and no accountability. That has to change. If a business wants to sell products that contain THC within city limits, it should be required to obtain a state license, lab-test all products for potency and purity, follow strict childproof packaging standards, limit sales to adults over 21 and offer only products that are truly naturally derived from hemp — not synthesized with unknown or dangerous chemical compounds. When it comes to the health and safety of our residents, Chicago has never waited on Springfield. We led on tobacco restrictions. We took bold action on flavored vaping. We've implemented innovative public health measures time and again when state action fell short. Now we must do the same with intoxicating hemp products. Because protecting our children and our communities isn't optional — it's our responsibility.
