With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire for Journalists.  As we near the end of the year, this week’s roundup features some of the most interesting and newsworthy news releases sent out via PR Newswire in 2021: 

Let’s review some of the year’s biggest news announcements across a range of industries. They date back to January 2021 and span the year, up until as recently as this week.

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Lenox Selected to Produce the Official Inaugural Gifts for the President and First Female Vice President of the United States on Inauguration Day

For the ninth consecutive inauguration, Lenox Corporation designed and gifted the official Inaugural gifts from the American people, given to the President and Vice President of the United States.

On January 20, 2021, Lenox Corporation on behalf of the American people gifted the custom-made, one-of-a-kind engraved crystal vases to the President and Vice President following the swearing-in ceremonies at the U.S. Capitol. Lenox offered these stunning gifts to the Joint Congressional Committee for Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC), and the design was approved by the committee.

Browse the latest news regarding all matters of policy and public interest.

Johnson & Johnson Announces U.S. CDC Advisory Committee Recommends First Single-Shot COVID-19 Vaccine for Adults 18 and Older in U.S.

Johnson & Johnson on Feb. 28 announced that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) had recommended the first single-shot COVID-19 vaccine, developed by Janssen Pharmaceutical Cos. of Johnson & Johnson, for individuals 18 years of age and older under the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) issued by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

Not surprisingly, health news is one of the most searched for on PR Newswire for Journalists. If you need help adjusting your newsfeed to be alerted of the latest announcements in the health industry, email us at mediasite@cision.com.

Washington is the Best State in the U.S., Says 2021 Best States Rankings

Washington is the Best State in the country, according to the 2021 U.S. News Best States rankings. U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and civic journalism, evaluated all 50 states across a range of categories to capture how states best serve their citizens. Washington is among the top 10 states in the infrastructure, education, economy, fiscal stability, and health care categories.

Washington’s low-carbon energy system and robust secondary education continue to rank among the nation’s best, as does the state’s economy, the fastest growing in the nation. Following the Evergreen State in the overall rankings is Minnesota at No. 2 and Utah at No. 3.

Check out the latest survey and poll releases with data on economic trends, focus group feedback, scholarly studies, and general informational queries.

Gerber Reveals 2021 Spokesbaby and First-Ever Chief Growing Officer

On June 28, early childhood nutrition leader Gerber announced the winner of its 11th annual Photo Search, who will serve as the 2021 Gerber Spokesbaby, as well as an important and adorable honorary role on Gerber’s executive committee as chief growing officer (CGO). Zane Kahin from Winter Park, Florida, captivated the judging panel with his cheerful attitude, infectious giggles, and playful smile that can light up any room.

As the latest Gerber Spokesbaby and first-ever CGO, Baby Zane represents every Gerber baby, and his family’s story of perseverance and hope serves as a reminder of what unites all parents and drives everyone at Gerber: the promise to do anything for baby.

Revealed: Tripadvisor’s Definitive Guide to the Best Restaurants in the U.S. and Worldwide

Tripadvisor announced on July 21 the winners of its 2021 Travelers’ Choice “Best of the Best” Restaurants awards, with five new categories of must-visit restaurants no matter where you are or what you crave, based on traveler reviews of people who have dined there before.

From favorite Fine Dining establishments for the more discerning taste buds and the Best Brunch Spots to fill up on avo toast and mimosas, to the Hottest New Restaurants and Best Vegan Spots serving up some of the tastiest plant-based grub. These award-winning restaurants have something to suit every type of palate.

As diners debated between eating out this year, opting for delivery, or cooking their own meals, there were plenty of food and beverage news releases to go around.

NASA’s Perseverance Rover Collects First Mars Rock Sample

On Sept. 6, NASA’s Perseverance rover completed the collection of the first sample of Martian rock, a core from Jezero Crater slightly thicker than a pencil. Mission controllers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California received data that confirmed the historic milestone.

The core is now enclosed in an airtight titanium sample tube, making it available for retrieval in the future. Through the Mars Sample Return campaign, NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) are planning a series of future missions to return the rover’s sample tubes to Earth for closer study. These samples would be the first set of scientifically identified and selected materials returned to our planet from another.

Do you write about space exploration? Follow the latest aerospace and defense news.

Deloitte: Holiday Retail Sales Expected to Increase 7-9%

Holiday retail sales are likely to increase between 7% and 9% in 2021, according to Deloitte’s annual holiday retail forecast. Overall, Deloitte’s retail and distribution practice projects that holiday sales will total $1.28 to $1.3 trillion during the November to January timeframe. Deloitte also forecasts that e-commerce sales will grow by 11-15%, year-over-year, during the 2021-2022 holiday season. This will likely result in e-commerce holiday sales reaching between $210 billion and $218 billion this season.

“As vaccination rates rise and consumers are more comfortable being outside of the home, we are likely to see increased spending on services, including restaurants and travel, while spending on goods will continue to hold steady,” said Daniel Bachman, Deloitte’s U.S. economic forecaster.

ICYMI: We recapped some of the season’s major holiday shopping news in our recent press release roundup.

Strong Rebound in India Lifts Global Consumer Confidence to Record High in Q3–But Optimism is Down in Other Key Markets Amid Delta Variant Surge

Global consumer confidence advanced to another record high in the third quarter of 2021, according to The Conference Board Global Consumer Confidence Survey. However, Q3’s gains were fueled largely by a powerful rebound in India — the first country crippled by the Delta wave earlier this year — and belied decreases in other major economies where the highly infectious viral variant impacted growth.

Overall, global consumer confidence climbed to 115 in Q3 2021, up from 109 in Q2. (A figure above 100 is considered positive.) Confidence rose in 40 of 65 markets (62%) surveyed, led by a 57-point gain in India. If India were excluded, the Global Consumer Confidence Index would have ticked down—from 108 in Q2 to 106 in Q3. Major economies including the US, China, Mexico, Australia, much of Eastern Europe, and several smaller Asian emerging markets all saw confidence decline as Delta fueled renewed lockdowns, factory closures, supply chain disruptions, increased inflationary pressures, and delayed labor market recoveries.

Jack Dorsey Steps Down as Twitter CEO, Board Unanimously Appoints CTO Parag Agrawal as Successor

Twitter Inc. announced on Nov. 29 that Jack Dorsey had decided to step down as chief executive officer and that the board unanimously appointed Parag Agrawal as CEO and a member of the board, effective immediately. Dorsey will remain a member of the board until his term expires at the 2022 meeting of stockholders. Bret Taylor was named the new chairman of the board, succeeding Patrick Pichette who will remain on the board and continue to serve as chair of the Audit Committee.

Follow the latest social media press releases for announcements from Twitter, Nextdoor, Match Group, and more.

TIME Names the 2021 Person of the Year: Elon Musk

Today (Dec. 13), TIME names Elon Musk the 2021 Person of the Year. TIME Editor-in-Chief and CEO Edward Felsenthal writes, “Person of the Year is a marker of influence, and few individuals have had more influence than Musk on life on Earth, and potentially life off Earth too. In 2021, Musk emerged not just as the world’s richest person but also as perhaps the richest example of a massive shift in our society.”

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Larry Grady is online content manager at PR Newswire for Journalists.  He has worked in business media for nearly 30 years and enjoys reality TV and daydreaming about travel and wine.