National News

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Author and former professional boxer Mike Rafferty announces the release of his new memoir, "The Last Neighborhood: A South Philly Memoir" (ISBN: 978-1834189406; March 2026, by Tellwell Publishing) a deeply personal coming-of-age story set in the working-class streets of South Philadelphia.

WALNUT, Calif. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- As spring marketing campaigns begin to accelerate, GSJJ, a global supplier of custom promotional products, has published its 2026 Spring Gift Trends report. The report outlines three major seasonal marketing scenarios-Easter & Outdoor Season, Graduation & End of Semester, and "Spring Refresh" & Brand Reinvention-offering businesses practical ideas on everything from product choices to campaign planning.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC), the nation's largest independent cooperative network for mortgage lenders, announced enhancements to its benchmarking platform and a rebrand from Benchmark to TMC Insight, delivering expanded dashboards and peer performance analysis for mortgage lenders.

LA VERNE, Calif. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Hillcrest will host its annual Luck O' the Draw fundraiser to support its benevolence funds, which assist residents who have outlived their financial resources and allow them to continue to live at Hillcrest. The community invites residents, supporters and neighbors to join them on Tuesday, March 17, at 6:30 p.m. for an evening of music, dessert and philanthropy in the Hillcrest Meeting House.

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Industrial SalesLeads announced today the February 2026 results of its new planned capital project spending report for the Food and Beverage industry. The Firm tracks planned industrial capital project activity across North America, including facility expansions, new plant construction, and major equipment modernization initiatives.

SEATTLE, Wash. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- 3rd3rd Marketing, the nation's leading "Un-Senior Living Agency," is kicking off its 2026 conference season, sharing insights into how senior living communities connect with older adults. Led by CEO and President Cynthia Thurlow, the 3rd3rd team will highlight senior living marketing strategies that challenge assumptions about aging as more adults enter the "third third" of their lives.

AUSTIN, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- FirstClose™, a leading fintech provider of data and workflow solutions for mortgage and home equity lenders nationwide, today announced the rebrand of its point-of-sale (POS) experience as XpressEquity, along with a refreshed Encompass® by ICE Mortgage Technology® integration that delivers a streamlined, end-to-end digital workflow for home equity originations.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Street Media Group proudly announces the completion of four brand-new digital billboard installations in the greater Louisville, Kentucky market. This newly constructed digital network significantly expands the company's footprint across two of the region's most heavily traveled commercial and commuter corridors: Highway 44 in Shepherdsville and Preston Highway in South Louisville.

RED BANK, N.J. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- FILMCARD USA launched the first wave of (5) titles include: X-Men (750+ issues), Iron Man (750+ issues), The Amazing Spider-Man (1,000+ issues), Fantastic Four (750+ issues), and Captain America (750+ issues). Each set compilation spans over 60 years, offering collectors something extraordinary: the ability to own and access Marvel's complete legacy series.

DES MOINES, Iowa /New York Netwire - National News/ -- iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced a new webinar series, "From Gaps to Growth: A Data-Driven Roadmap to Increase Production." The free, multi-episode series will help mortgage lenders navigate an increasingly complex mortgage environment and translate market intelligence into practical strategies for sustainable origination growth.

BOULDER, Colo. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Floify, the mortgage industry's leading point-of-sale (POS) solution, today announced the release of Dynamic Apps 2.0, a major platform enhancement that allows lenders to create fully customizable loan applications tailored to specific loan purposes, borrower scenarios and business workflows without relying on engineering resources or third-party integrations.

TURNERSVILLE, N.J. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Street Media Group, a leading out-of-home advertising provider, proudly announces the launch of its newest high-impact digital billboard in one of the country's top five DMAs. Strategically positioned along the Atlantic City Expressway just 0.25 miles south of the Black Horse Pike (NJ-42) off-ramp, this 14'x48' dual-read digital display delivers premium visibility to commuters traveling between Philadelphia and Atlantic City.

PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today released its February 2026 Market Advantage mortgage data report, showing a meaningful improvement in lock activity as lower mortgage rates helped bring purchase borrowers back into the market. Total rate-lock volume rose 9% month over month (MoM) and was nearly 40% higher year over year (YoY).

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- HitPaw has launched its global 2026 "Pay the Cat Tax" campaign, inviting cat lovers worldwide to celebrate their feline companions while earning rewards. Designed to blend creativity, community engagement, and real prizes, the campaign encourages participants to upload cat photos, complete fun tasks, collect "meow coins," and redeem exclusive benefits.

QUIBDO, Colombia /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Colombian prosecutor and legal scholar Yackson Eustaquio Chaverra Mena has successfully completed and defended his postdoctoral research in Law at the University of Bologna, focusing on the constitutional architecture required for the legitimate integration of artificial intelligence into criminal justice systems.

LAKE ZURICH, Ill. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Dovenmuehle Mortgage, Inc. (DMI), a leading mortgage subservicing company, announced today that Fannie Mae has again honored the company with their Servicer Total Achievement and Rewards™ (STAR™) Servicer Award for outstanding servicing performance during the 2025 program year. This is the seventh occasion Fannie Mae has recognized DMI for servicing excellence.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., and WASHINGTON, D.C. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Natural Transplants, a specialized hair restoration clinic with surgical facilities in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Washington, D.C., has been officially recognized as a major player in the global market according to the newly released Hair Transplant Global Market Report 2026 by The Business Research Company. The clinic was highlighted alongside a select group of elite legacy brands in an industry experiencing unprecedented worldwide demand.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- ViewTech Borescopes will exhibit at VERTICON 2026, the world's largest conference and trade show dedicated to the vertical aviation industry, taking place March 9-12, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. The event is hosted by Vertical Aviation International and brings together thousands of aviation professionals, operators, manufacturers, and maintenance specialists from around the world.

BOULDER, Colo. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Floify, the mortgage industry's leading point-of-sale (POS) solution, today announced that Sydney Barber, head of product, has been named a 2026 recipient of the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Residential mPact Young Professionals Spotlight Award. Barber was one of only five professionals selected for the honor, which recognizes industry leaders under 40 who are driving meaningful impact within their organizations, strengthening communities and helping shape the future of homeownership.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- The Dolby Theatre in Hollywood announced today a major sustainability milestone: the 2027 Oscars ceremony and all other events and concerts starting in 2027, will be supported by on-site renewable energy and related infrastructure, marking a significant leap towards reducing the environmental footprint of one of the world's most recognized venues. A similar project is expected at a later date at the TCL Chinese Theatre.