RICHMOND, Virginia, April 18 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news: By Amelia Heymann Shawn Utsey, Ph.D., is the 2024 recipient of Virginia Commonwealth University's Riese-Melton Award, which recognizes contributions that advance cross-cultural relations. The announcement was made April 16 at the ceremony for the annual Presidential Awards for Community Multicultural Enrichment. Utsey is among five PACME honorees for 2024. The PACME program recognizes VCU individuals a  more

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, April 17 (TNSres) -- The Massachusetts Institute of Technology issued the following news: * * * The award recognizes exceptional distinction in teaching, research, and service at MIT. * * * By Sandi Miller, Department of Physics Class of 1958 Career Development Assistant Professor Erin Kara of the Department of Physics has been named as the recipient of the 2023-24 Harold E. Edgerton Faculty Achievement Award. Established in 1982, the award is a tribute to the l  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, April 22 -- Gov. Kim Reynolds, R-Iowa, issued the following statement on April 20, 2024: * * * Today, Gov. Reynolds released the following statement in response to the conclusion of the 2024 legislative session: "Iowa has set a course for transformation, and it was the driving force of the 2024 legislative session. We prioritized special education reform and early literacy instruction to help all students reach their potential, and increased teacher salaries to attract and   more

NEW YORK, April 22 -- New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued the following statement on April 20, 2024: * * * New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement after New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced an extension of mayoral accountability for two more years: "With the inclusion of mayoral accountability in the state budget, our administration has now secured every single one of our legislative priorities in the budget. Every. Single. One. "In the 22 years since ma  more

WASHINGTON, April 18 -- President Biden issued the following proclamation honoring Education and Sharing Day: * * * This Education and Sharing Day, USA, we remember the life and legacy of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, as the leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement and recommit to our shared values of honesty, dignity, and equal justice that he long championed and that have made America strong. Forced to flee Nazi-occupied Europe during one of history's darkest momen  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- President Biden issued the following statement on April 20, 2024, on 25 years since the Columbine High School shooting: * * * Twenty-five years ago today, two students walked into Columbine High School with assault weapons and other firearms they obtained without background checks. They killed twelve of their fellow students and one teacher, injuring nearly two dozen others, and transforming classrooms into crime scenes. Jill and I continue to pray for the survivors and  more

SYRACUSE, New York, April 21 -- Syracuse University issued the following news: Writing and rhetoric professor Amy Murphy has been awarded a Fulbright to research and teach in Slovakia. The photo is of Murphy during a trip to Slovakia in 2023. She traveled there in search of ancestral information about her great-grandfather. Genealogy websites like Ancestry.com are a popular way for individuals to trace and preserve their family histories. Before this information was widely accessible via the w  more

NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey, April 22 -- Rutgers University issued the following news: By Fredda Sacharow Efren Mercado began serving time in 1993 on a felony murder charge for his role in a robbery that went horribly wrong - a scared kid of 17, barely speaking English, separated from his family for the first time and looking at an uncertain future. He walked out a free man 30 years later, not only ready to receive his bachelor's degree in justice studies from the School of Criminal Justice at   more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill., introduced a resolution on March 14, 2024. The text of the resolution was released on April 14. S. Res. 589. A resolution honoring Wadee Alfayoumi, a 6- year-old Palestinian-American boy, murdered as a victim of a hate crime for his Palestinian-Muslim identity, in the State of Illinois; to the Committee on the Judiciary. The resolution is cosponsored by Sens. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Patty Murr  more

QUANG TRI, Vietnam, April 21 -- The U.S. Embassy in Vietnam issued following news release on April 19, 2024: The United States Mission to Vietnam, through the Office of Defense Cooperation, advanced ongoing bilateral efforts in educational infrastructure and disaster relief by handing over Trieu Thuan Kindergarten to the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee on April 17. Funded by the United States Indo-Pacific Command through the Overseas Humanitarian Disaster Assistance and Civic Action Pr  more

ADELAIDE, Australia, April 22 (TNSres) -- The University of South Australia issued the following news release: * * * Colourful slides and metal monkey bars are the mainstay of local playgrounds. But look around and you'll notice a growing trend for natural elements in children's play spaces, So, which is better for children's development? * * * Researchers at the University of South Australia have been exploring just this, finding that while both spaces have benefits, children prefer playing  more

WASHINGTON, April 19 -- The White House issued the following transcript of a news briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre: * * * MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Good afternoon, everyone. Q: Good afternoon. MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Sorry I'm delayed. I was actually listening to -- to your reporting -- your live report from your seat. (Laughter.) Q: Got any -- any suggestions about things that we need to include next time? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: You know, I have a lot of suggestions. Q: Yeah. MS. JEAN-PIERRE:   more