United Adds Nearly 200 Flights for Political Conventions

United has added nearly 200 new flights to make it easier for convention attendees and political enthusiasts to travel to this summer's national political conventions. 

United, which flies to and from airports in South Carolina, will increase its Milwaukee flying by more than 75 percent for the Republican National Convention in July and will fly its largest schedule from its Chicago O'Hare hub since 2019 for the Democratic National Convention in August, including a 40 percent increase in flying between Chicago O'Hare and Washington Reagan.

In all, the airline will add 72 flights to and from Milwaukee in July and 118 flights to and from Chicago in August.

"These conventions are steeped in tradition and have now evolved to become a weeklong celebration of our political process," said Patrick Quayle, United's senior vice president of Global Network Planning and Alliances.

Quayle added, "We're proud to give people even more options to visit two great cities, and participate in these historic events and make their voices heard."

Tickets are on sale now on the United app and United.com.

Republican National Convention Schedule

United said its larger Milwaukee schedule for the Republican National Convention, will enable nearly 5,000 more people to attend the event. 

In all, United will have more than 280 flights to and from Milwaukee the week of the convention including:

* A new, nonstop flight between Milwaukee and Washington Reagan airport.

* 72 additional flights from United's hubs in Chicago O'Hare, New York/Newark, Denver, Washington Dulles and Houston.

* 20 roundtrip flights on larger aircraft.

Democratic National Convention Schedule

United will fly its largest Chicago O'Hare schedule since 2019 for the Democratic National Convention, with more than 530 flights per day on peak days.

The schedule includes:

* 38 additional flights between Chicago O'Hare and Washington Reagan.

* More than 80 added flights between Chicago O'Hare and cities like Albany, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Portland, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose and Seattle.

Feds Invest $11 Million to Expand Medical Residencies in Rural Communities

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), awarded more than $11 million to 15 organizations to establish new residency programs in rural communities.

Building on HRSA’s Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative, one program will create the first obstetrics and gynecology Rural Track Program in the country, and six others will develop new family medicine residency programs with enhanced obstetrical training in rural communities.

Federal officials said the Medical University of South Carolina will receive $750,000. MUSC officials said the money will go to starting a family medicine residency in Orangeburg. 

“Every American should have access to high-quality health care no matter where they live. That is why HHS is investing in programs that improve and expand access in geographic areas that have historically been underserved,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.

“This funding will help build pathways for rural students to become doctors and help rural communities recruit and train more doctors," said HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson. "We are particularly pleased to support new programs aimed at training new physicians to care for pregnant women.”

The awards build on nearly $54 million that HRSA has invested in the Rural Residency Planning and Development Program (RRPD) since 2019.

Past recipients of RRPD awards have created 46 accredited rural residency programs and have been approved to train 575 resident physicians overall.

In this year’s 2024 Residency Match, RRPD-created residency programs matched 158 new residents who will start training this summer.

The award recipients each will receive up to $750,000 over three years to establish new rural residency programs. They will use this funding to support accreditation costs, curriculum development, faculty recruitment and retention, resident recruitment activities, and consultation services for program development.

Many of the awardees will implement a Rural Track Program, which makes it possible for residency programs to provide their residents with experience in rural settings and increase access to health care in rural areas.

Becerra and White House Domestic Policy Adviser Neera Tanden announced the new awards while visiting rural health clinic in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, on Thursday, June 13, 2024.

JW Aluminum Achieves Aluminum Stewardship Initiative Certification for Entire Operations

JW Aluminum, a leading producer of flat-rolled aluminum products, said it has achieved Aluminum Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Performance Standard Certification across its entire operations.

Officials said the company's South Carolina and Arkansas plants are the first continuous cast rolling facilities in the U.S. to be certified to ASI's latest Version 3.0 standard.

JW Aluminum serves the building products, HVAC, and transportation markets.

ASI is a global, multi-stakeholder nonprofit certification body that sets standards to promote sustainability throughout the aluminum value chain.

To be certified, JW Aluminum underwent rigorous third-party audits to assess its adherence to the ASI Performance Standard's robust environmental, social, and governance requirements and practices. 

ASI's Performance Standard V3 defines principles and criteria for sustainability factors like production and sourcing, including greenhouse gas emissions, waste management, material stewardship, human rights, and more.

"We are extremely proud to have achieved ASI Certification across all of our operations," said Ryan Roush, chief operating officer at JW Aluminum.

Roush added, "As a domestic aluminum rolled products producer, our business model is inherently circular, and our corporate culture fosters integrity and accountability in every facet of our operations.”

JW Aluminum produces infinitely recyclable flat-rolled aluminum used to make products essential to everyday lives, like building products and HVAC components.

Over 400 teammates at its Goose Creek, South Carolina and Russellville, Arkansas, facilities process the aluminum to support those industries. 

Columbia, SC, Restaurant and Bar Is a James Beard Award Winner

The James Beard Foundation announced winners of the 2024 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards presented by Capital One, honoring excellence across the culinary industry, from fine dining to casual gems in our communities, while also supporting and encouraging a more sustainable industry.

Lula Drake Wine Parlour in Columbia, South Carolina, was named Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program.

Foundation officials said it is a restaurant, owned by Tim Gardner, “that demonstrates exceptional care and skill in the pairing of wine and other beverages with food while contributing positively to its broader community.”

The restaurant’s website says Lula Drake was a trailblazer. She owned her own hat shop in a business world dominated by men. She matured early, and married late. She went by Drake, never Lula. She preferred dark colors to pastels. And yet, she cut newspaper clippings on how to be a lady.

The website says Drake was full of contradictions, probably called the town eccentric, but she likely never minded.

The winners were announced June 10, 2024, during a live ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago co-hosted by Nyesha Arrington, chef, restaurateur, and co-host of FOX’s Next Level Chef; Richard Blais, chef, James Beard Award–nominated author, and co-host of FOX’s Next Level Chef; Amanda Freitag, chef, author, and judge on Food Network’s Chopped, and Marcus Samuelsson, James Beard Award–winning chef, restaurateur, and author.

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