Release 1.9 Updates

• Details of Release 1.9: #15127

• Feature-Summary

• Existing-Issue-Summary

Updates April-22

• #15411: Reviewed and shared comments (owner:  jorgevargasmor)

• #15409: To be rebased (owner: Jordan)

• #15403: Unit tests to be fixed (owner:  brunohcfaria)

• #15401: Minor comments to be addressed (owner: nathaniel-bennett)

• #15370: To be merged (owner jahid)