Thursday - March 28, 2024
State Tipoffs Involving Texas Newsletter for Sunday June 21, 2020 ( 80 items )  

ABC News Presents Primetime Special to Commemorate Juneteenth and Its Meaning to Ongoing Struggle for Black Equality in America
AUSTIN, Texas, June 18 -- ABC, a television entertainment company, issued the following news release: ABC News announced it will present a primetime special to commemorate Juneteenth, the holiday celebrating the end of slavery in America, and examine its symbolism among the Black community and around the nation. Led by a team of ABC News anchors and correspondents including "ABC News Live Prime" Anchor Linsey Davis, "Nightline" Co-Anchor Byron Pitts, Correspondents Deborah Roberts, TJ Holmes, S  more

Alamo Colleges Gives Students $9.9 Million in CARES Act Emergency Aid
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, June 16 -- The Alamo Colleges District issued the following news release: The Higher Education Emergency Relief Grants under the federal CARES act are based on student expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), and the funding is not tied to existing financial aid programs such as Pell Grants. All funds are distributed directly to students to help with expenses for access to technology for remote learning, buying groceries, pay  more

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan Signs Executive Order Declaring Juneteenth Holiday in City of Albany
ALBANY, New York, June 18 -- The city of Albany issued the following news release: Mayor Kathy Sheehan has signed an Executive Order declaring Juneteenth a holiday in the City of Albany. June 19, or Juneteenth, is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States and celebrates African American freedom and achievement. On June 19, 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, Union troops led by Major General Gordon Granger arrived a  more

Angelo State University: New Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence Partnership
SAN ANGELO, Texas, June 19 -- Angelo State University issued the following news release: Angelo State University has partnered with Howard College, the San Angelo Independent School District and the 17th Training Group at Goodfellow Air Force Base to create a new Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) program for professional faculty development. Representatives of the four entities signed an official Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the partnership program during a virtual ce  more

Angelo State University: New Computer Science Transfer Agreement With Goodfellow AFB
SAN ANGELO, Texas, June 16 -- Angelo State University issued the following news release: Angelo State University has signed a partnership agreement with Goodfellow Air Force Base that will allow Air Force personnel who have earned an associate degree to transfer their credits into a new Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (B.A.A.S.) with computer science specialization degree program at ASU. Per the agreement, those personnel with an associate degree can now transfer all their academic cours  more

Angelo State University: Nursing Department Earns CCNE Re-Accreditation
SAN ANGELO, Texas, June 17 -- Angelo State University issued the following news release: Angelo State University's Department of Nursing has earned re-accreditation by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) following an extensive process that culminated with a campus site visit last fall by CCNE evaluators. The CCNE officially re-accredited the ASU Department of Nursing for 10 years with no compliance issues. All three of ASU's nursi  more

Austin Community College District Announces Plan to Begin Its Return to Campus
AUSTIN, Texas, June 15 -- The Austin Community College District issued the following news: Austin Community College District (ACC) will begin a gradual approach to return to campus beginning in July. The college released new health and safety procedures and protocols to safely phase-in a small number of workforce classes and student services that require face-to-face interaction. All other courses will remain online, and the majority of employees will be asked to continue to work remotely. "W  more

Austin Community College District: President Rhodes Issues Message on Supreme Court Rulings
AUSTIN, Texas, June 19 -- The Austin Community College District issued the following statement on June 18 by President and CEO Richard M. Rhodes: I am writing to you to share important news with you from our nation's Supreme Court. This morning, the justices ruled against efforts to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Their decision keeps the DACA program alive and protects Dreamers from deportation. Austin Community College (ACC) District stands in full support of th  more

Baylor University Commits to 100% Student Voter Registration and Participation
WACO, Texas, June 15 -- Baylor University issued the following news: Baylor University President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., has joined more than 160 college presidents and chancellors in committing to full student voter registration and participation in all elections through the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN). To support full student voter participation of all eligible students, ALL IN and its Higher Education Presidents Council has launched a call to action for higher education p  more

Baylor University: Black Gospel Music Expert Shares 10 of the Most Powerful, Enduring Freedom Songs, Protest Spirituals
WACO, Texas, June 19 -- Baylor University issued the following news: As the protests following the death of George Floyd began to roil the country, it was only a few days before the demonstrators began to sing an array of freedom songs and protest spirituals, as well as a few new adaptations, including Bill Withers' "Lean on Me." Some of these songs have been sung by people fighting nonviolently for freedom and justice for hundreds of years. Many have been sung continually in the United States   more

BayMark Health Services Acquires Los Angeles Area Opioid Treatment Program
LEWISVILLE, Texas, June 20 -- BayMark Health Services issued the following news: The seventh in the LA Area, BayMark's first facility in the San Fernando Valley provides medication-assisted treatment and counseling for opioid addiction. BayMark Health Services announced the acquisition of Narcotic Addiction Treatment Agency (NATA), an Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) in Sun Valley, CA. Providing medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in the San Fernando Valley for more than 35 years, NATA has estab  more

BayMark Health Services Acquires Massachusetts Suboxone Provider Group
LEWISVILLE, Texas, June 20 -- BayMark Health Services issued the following news: BayMark Health Services expands services in New England to include office-based opioid treatment (OBOT). BayMark Health Services has announced the acquisition of Middlesex Recovery, an office-based opioid treatment (OBOT) provider with four clinic locations in Massachusetts. The programs offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction with buprenorphine and Suboxone(R), as well as counseling, in a p  more

Black Lives Matter at Alamo Colleges District
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, June 19 -- The Alamo Colleges District issued the following joint statement on June 18: The co-signers are Alamo Colleges Board Chair Marcelo Casillas, Chancellor Mike Flores, Northeast Lakeview College President Veronica Garcia, Northwest Vista College President Ric Neal Baser, Palo Alto College President Robert Garza, St. Philip's College President Adena Williams Loston and San Antonio College President Robert Vela. Tomorrow is Juneteenth; it is a day that commemorates t  more

Bowdoin's Patrick Rael Reflects on the Enduring Importance of Juneteenth
BRUNSWICK, Maine, June 20 -- Bowdoin College issued the following news: Juneteenth recalls the day--June 19, 1865--when the U.S. Army declared that those enslaved in Texas were now free. Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation began this work on January 1, 1863, asserting that all parts of the country then under rebellion would be "henceforth, and forever free." It took armies to make this promise a reality, though--armies comprised of black and white Union troops, such as those in Texas th  more

Bracewell and Prosperity Bancshares Win M&A Transaction of the Year Award at 2020 Houston Corporate Counsel Awards
HOUSTON, Texas, June 17 -- Bracewell, a law firm, issued the following news release: The Texas Lawbook and the Houston Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel honored Bracewell LLP and Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. with the M&A Transaction of the Year Award at the 2020 Outstanding Corporate Counsel Awards (https://texaslawbook.net/centerpoint-etp-prosperity-bank-more-2020-houston-corp-counsel-award-winners/). Will Anderson, Jason M. Jean and Joshua T. McNulty worked closely with Prosperi  more

Bracewell Recommended for Patent Prosecution in 2020 IAM Patent 1000
HOUSTON, Texas, June 18 -- Bracewell, a law firm, issued the following news release: Bracewell LLP's intellectual property practice was recommended in Texas for patent prosecution in the 2020 edition of IAM Patent 1000. The editors described the team as a "discerning choice for patent management." In addition to recognizing the firm's IP practice in Texas, IAM Patent 1000 singled out three Bracewell partners for their excellence. In Texas, Constance Gall Rhebergen was recommend for the ninth  more

Bracewell: Shechtman Named to Commission to Reimagine Future of New York's Courts
HOUSTON, Texas, June 19 -- Bracewell, a law firm, issued the following news release: Paul Shechtman, a partner in Bracewell LLP's New York office, has been appointed by New York Chief Judge Janet DiFiore to the newly formed Commission to Reimagine the Future of New York's Courts. Shechtman is among the 24 lawyers, judges, academic and technology experts who will make short-term recommendations as New York courts resume in-person operations while developing a blueprint for the court system of   more

CenterPoint Energy: Vectren's Integrated Resource Plan Selects Significant Renewables
HOUSTON, Texas, June 18 -- CenterPoint Energy issued the following news release: During its final Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) public stakeholder meeting, Vectren, a CenterPoint Energy company, (Vectren) presented a preferred portfolio to diversify its electric generation fleet in the coming years. The plan ensures reliability and mitigates risk, while saving electric customers an estimated $320 million over the 20-year planning period. Nearly two-thirds of the energy included in the new plan  more

China, India Need to Act Quickly to 'Return to Peaceful Disagreement,' Says Baker Institute Expert
HOUSTON, Texas, June 18 -- Rice University issued the following news release: The most serious face-off (https://www.usnews.com/news/world-report/articles/2020-06-16/dozens-killed-as-india-china-face-off-in-first-deadly-clash-in-decades) between China and India on the world's longest unsettled land border in nearly half a century left dozens of soldiers dead Monday night. "The resurgence of a decades-old border dispute between India and China, and especially an escalation to violent conflict w  more

Congressional Black Caucus Reflects on Juneteenth, Promise of Justice & Liberty for All
WASHINGTON, June 20 -- The Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement: Every year on June 19, we celebrate "Juneteenth" to honor the day that the enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were informed of the end of the brutal Civil War and the beginning of their freedom in 1865. This day was two and a half years after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which had become official on January 1, 1863. As we commemorate this day we must acknowledge that we are also entering a   more

Coordinating Board Report: Tarleton State University Among Top Transfer Universities
STEPHENVILLE, Texas, June 16 -- Tarleton State University issued the following news release on June 15: The numbers prove it again: Tarleton State University is one of the best transfer schools in Texas. According to 2019 accountability reports released by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the graduation rate for two-year college students who transfer to Tarleton with 30 or more credit hours nears 70 percent, topping the statewide average by almost 8 points. There are good reason  more

Eastern Michigan University: President Smith - 'Juneteenth - A Time for Learning, Reflection'
YPSILANTI, Michigan, June 20 -- Eastern Michigan University issued the following statement on June 19 by President James Smith: There is no more important day to show support for the Black community than Juneteenth. Juneteenth recognizes and celebrates the day that slavery was abolished in Texas on June 19, 1865. The deep challenges and the important dialogue underway across our nation and here in our community about racial inequality and social justice makes this a unique time in history, espe  more

ExxonMobil Presents Lamar University With $309K Employee Gift Match
BEAUMONT, Texas, June 20 -- Lamar University issued the following news: Lamar University received a gift of $309,000 from the ExxonMobil Foundation Tuesday, June 16 as a part of the company's Educational Matching Gift Program. The grant is the result of a three-to-one match of contributions donated in the previous year by company employees, retirees and surviving spouses. ExxonMobil has a long partnership with Lamar University," said David Gorsich, an LU alumnus who manages ExxonMobil's safety  more

Former Slippery Rock Head Football Coach Mihalik Listed on College Football Hall of Fame Ballot
IRVING, Texas, June 16 -- Slippery Rock University issued the following news: Former Slippery Rock University head football coach George Mihalik is one of 40 coaches listed on the 2021 College Football Hall of Fame ballot that was announced by the National Football Foundation and the College Football Hall of Fame. The ballot includes seven coaches from the Division I FBS ranks and 33 coaches from other levels of college football, along with 78 players from Division I FBS schools and 99 players  more

From University of Texas Arlington Libraries to the Smithsonian and the Getty
ARLINGTON, Texas, June 17 -- The University of Texas Arlington campus issued the following news release: Two members of the student staff in Special Collections at the University of Texas at Arlington Libraries have received prestigious post-graduation placements for the summer of 2020. Jessica Khazem received an advanced undergraduate scholar's grant through the J. Paul Getty Foundation to conduct research at the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles. Mya Lewis will participate in a virtual  more

Gov. Abbott Extends Disaster Declaration in June 2020 Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
AUSTIN, Texas, June 11 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following proclamation: WHEREAS, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, issued a disaster proclamation on March 13, 2020, certifying under Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) poses an imminent threat of disaster for all counties in the State of Texas; and WHEREAS, in each subsequent month effective through today, I have issued proclamations renewing the disaster declaration for all Texas   more

Gov. Abbott Extends Disaster Declaration in June 2020 for Texas Counties Affected By Hurricane Harvey
AUSTIN, Texas, June 11 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following proclamation: WHEREAS, I, GREG ABBOTT, Governor of the State of Texas, issued a disaster proclamation on August 23, 2017, certifying that Hurricane Harvey posed a threat of imminent disaster for Aransas, Austin, Bee, Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, DeWitt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Harris, Jackson, Jefferson, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kleberg, Lavaca, Liberty, Live Oak, Matagorda, Nueces, Refugio, S  more

Gov. Grisham: N.M. Flags to Be Lowered to Commemorate Juneteenth
SANTA FE, New Mexico, June 19 -- Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has ordered state flags to half-staff in observance of Juneteenth. State flags will be flown at half-staff beginning sundown Thursday through sundown Saturday. Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves on Jan. 1, 1863, but it was almost 2 1/2 years later, on June 19, 1865, when Union Gen. Gordon Granger read the federal orders in   more

Journal of High Energy Physics Features Paper by LSU-Shreveport Professor
SHREVEPORT, Louisiana, June 18 -- Louisiana State University Shreveport campus issued the following news: Louisiana State University Shreveport Assistant Professor of Physics Dr. James A. Maxin has published a paper together with graduate student Ron De Benedetti that is generating buzz within the scientific community. The paper, "Naturalness in D-brane Inspired Models", was authored in collaboration with Chinese Academy of Sciences Professor of Physics Dr. Tianjun Li and Distinguished Professo  more

Kent State University: Juneteenth - A Celebration of Independence and Resistance
KENT, Ohio, June 19 -- Kent State University issued the following news: On June 19, people across the country celebrate Juneteenth, the commemoration of the day in 1865 when enslaved black Americans in Galveston, Texas, got the news that the Civil War had ended, and they were now free. Slavery in states engaged in rebellion against the Union had ended a full two years before, when President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation became official on Jan. 1, 1863. And it wasn't long before b  more

La. Gov. Edwards Declares Juneteenth Observance Day in Louisiana
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana, June 20 -- Gov. John Bel Edwards, D-Louisiana, issued the following news on June 19: Gov. John Bel Edwards declared June 19, 2020, as Juneteenth Observance Day in Louisiana to celebrate the day in 1865 when Union Major General Gordon Granger freed the last remaining enslaved African Americans in Texas by issuing General Order Number 3. Juneteenth is a day of learning, sharing and honoring the history, culture, and achievements of African Americans throughout the state   more

MD Anderson and Philips Collaborate to Facilitate Personalized Oncology Treatments and Clinical Trial Matching Based on Genomic Markers
HOUSTON, Texas, June 17 -- The University of Texas's MD Anderson Cancer Center issued the following news release: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Royal Philips announced a collaboration to provide oncologists with evidence-based therapy and clinical trial guidance through Philips' oncology informatics solutions and MD Anderson's Precision Oncology Decision Support (PODS) system. This collaboration will allow physicians around the world to personalize therapy based on the p  more

MD Anderson Cancer Center: Combination Biomarker Predicts Response to Immune Checkpoint Therapy in Patients With Advanced Bladder Cancer
HOUSTON, Texas, June 18 -- The University of Texas's MD Anderson Cancer Center issued the following news release on June 17: In patients with metastatic bladder cancer, a novel combination of biomarkers from baseline tumor tissues was predictive of improved clinical responses and prolonged survival following treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors, according to researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The study, published today in Science Translational Medicine,  more

MD Anderson Cancer Center: Study Shows Sedentary Behavior Independently Predicts Cancer Mortality
HOUSTON, Texas, June 19 -- The University of Texas's MD Anderson Cancer Center issued the following news releaseon June 18: In the first study to look at objective measures of sedentary behavior and cancer mortality, researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that greater inactivity was independently associated with a higher risk of dying from cancer. The most sedentary individuals had an 82% higher risk of cancer mortality compared to the least sedentary individua  more

Mindfulness Combined With Hypnotherapy Aids Highly Stressed People, Baylor University Pilot Study Finds
WACO, Texas, June 15 -- Baylor University issued the following news: A new treatment for stress which combines mindfulness with hypnotherapy has shown positive results in a Baylor University pilot study. The intervention is called "mindful hypnotherapy." "Mindfulness is a type of meditation that involves focusing attention on present-moment awareness. It can help people cope with stress, but it can require months of practice and training," said researcher Gary Elkins, Ph.D., director of the M  more

New Pathways and Large-Scale Community Partnerships Awards Expand Frontera's Research Impact
AUSTIN, Texas, June 16 -- The University of Texas at Austin's Texas Advanced Computing Center issued the following news release: This week, the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) announced that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has approved allocations of supercomputing time on Frontera -- the fastest university supercomputer in the world and the 5th fastest overall -- to 26 science and engineering projects for 2020-2021 through the Pathways and Large-Scale Community Partnerships (LSCP)  more

Nexstar Broadcasting Promotes Mike Lee to Vice President, General Manager of Its Waco/Temple/Bryan, TX, Broadcast, Digital Operations
IRVING, Texas, June 16 -- Nexstar Media Group, a television broadcasting company, issued the following news release on June 15: Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXST), announced that it has promoted Mike Lee to Vice President and General Manager of its broadcast and digital operations serving the Waco, Temple, and Bryan, TX markets (DMA #82), including KWKT-TV (FOX), KYLE-TV (MyNetworkTV) and their associated digital and mobile operatio  more

Ohio University: President Nellis Issues Statement for Juneteenth
ATHENS, Ohio, June 20 -- Ohio University issued the following statement on June 19 by President M. Duane Nellis: Ohio University President M. Duane Nellis issued the following statement during the Board of Trustees meeting on June 19, 2020. I would like to begin my report today by recognizing one of the most important days in American history, Juneteenth. Observed annually on June 19, today marks the 1865 announcement in Galveston, Texas stating that slavery had been abolished more than two an  more

Rice Expert Available to Discuss Upcoming Supreme Court Decision on DACA
HOUSTON, Texas, June 18 -- Rice University issued the following news release: As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to issue a ruling (https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/14/daca-congress-supreme-court-315465) on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deferred_Action_for_Childhood_Arrivals), Rice University's Tony Payan, the Francoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and director of the Center for the United States and Mexico at Ric  more

Rice University: 'Relaxed' T Cells Critical to Immune Response
HOUSTON, Texas, June 17 -- Rice University issued the following news release: Like finding that needle in the haystack every time, your T cells (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T_cell) manage what seems like an improbable task: quickly finding a few invaders among the many imposters in your body to trigger its immune response. T cells have to react fast and do so nearly perfectly to protect people from diseases. But first, they need a little "me" time. Rice University researchers suggest that h  more

Rice University: Baker Institute Expert Available to Comment on Biden Tax Proposals
HOUSTON, Texas, June 17 -- Rice University issued the following news release: The tax proposals outlined by former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, would raise $3.8 trillion in revenue over 10 years but do little to address debt growth, according to a new report (https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/an-analysis-of-joe-bidens-tax-proposals/) co-authored by an expert at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. The American Enterp  more

Rice University: Excitons Form Superfluid in Certain 2D Combos
HOUSTON, Texas, June 16 -- Rice University issued the following news release: Mixing and matching computational models of 2D materials led scientists at Rice University to the realization that excitons -- quasiparticles that exist when electrons and holes briefly bind -- can be manipulated in new and useful ways. The researchers identified a small set of 2D compounds with similar atomic lattice dimensions that, when placed together, would allow excitons to form spontaneously. Generally, excito  more

Rice University: Stress-Management Strategies Can Boost Health Care Teams During Pandemic
HOUSTON, Texas, June 16 -- Rice University issued the following news release: Celebrating successes, admitting mistakes and encouraging honest communication among employees are some of the steps health care leaders should take to improve teamwork during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new paper from researchers at Rice University. "Managing teamwork in the face of pandemic: evidence-based tips" appears in a recent edition of BMJ Quality & Safety. The article offers evidence-based recomme  more

SRA Grants $100K to LU Led Project to Mitigate Flooding in Southeast Texas
BEAUMONT, Texas, June 20 -- Lamar University issued the following news: The Sabine River Authority of Texas awarded Lamar University $100,000 to help initiate the Southeast Texas Flood Coordination Study, a collaborative project designed to help the region improve its resiliency during large-scale flooding events. Executive Vice President and General Manager for the Sabine River Authority of Texas presented the check on Tuesday, June 16 to Ken Evans, president of Lamar University; Liv Haselbac  more

St. Edward's University: President Martin's Statement on Positive Supreme Court DACA Decision
AUSTIN, Texas, June 19 -- St. Edward's University issued the following statement by President George E. Martin: This morning, we received the very happy news that the Supreme Court of the United States issued a decision representing a temporary win for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which provides work permits and protection from deportation for close to 700,000 DACA recipients. We are grateful for the positive impact it will have on our students, employees, alumni, and country.  more

Stephen F. Austin State University Researchers Study Iconic, Threatened Turtle Species of Southeast
NACOGDOCHES, Texas, June 19 -- Stephen F. Austin State University issued the following news release: During one of the last cool mornings in May, an aluminum boat filled with four Stephen F. Austin State University researchers navigated a muddy waterway to a hoop net trap located under the drooping limbs of a streamside tree. As forestry graduate student David Rosenbaum balanced on the bow of the boat and hoisted the trap above the water, Dr. Christopher Schalk, assistant professor of forest wi  more

Tarleton State University, Tarrant County College Collaborate on Nursing Program
STEPHENVILLE, Texas, June 18 -- Tarleton State University issued the following news release on June 17: In a possibly unique collaboration, Tarleton State University and Tarrant County College in Fort Worth have joined forces to streamline the route for nursing students transitioning from an associate degree to a bachelor's. The agreement provides for the two institutions to offer co-curricular concurrent enrollment, resulting in a seamless educational program for TCC associate degree nursing   more

Texas A&M Offers Undergraduates Hands-on Research Experience Despite Pandemic
COLLEGE STATION, Texas, June 18 -- Texas A&M University's College of Engineering issued the following news on June 17: Each year, engineering students from all over the United States gear up for the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program and other research internships. This year started off no different as students prepared their applications, received acceptance letters from the programs of their choice, and were eagerly awaiting their interns  more

Texas A&M System Regents Create $100 Million Scholarship Fund
CANYON, Texas, June 17 -- West Texas A&M University issued the following news: The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents created a special $100 million scholarship fund with the goal of making the A&M System's 11 universities better reflect the state's demographics. The scholarship program is to address diversity issues as well as concerns of students who are first-generation and/or from low-income families in the wake of economic uncertainty associated with COVID-19, current unemployme  more

Texas A&M University: Wippold's Research Accelerates COVID-19 Antibody Identification
COLLEGE STATION, Texas, June 16 -- Texas A&M University's College of Engineering issued the following news: As the COVID-19 pandemic puts more demands on research, many engineers have found ways to adapt their current projects to help solve these problems. Jose Wippold, doctoral student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University, is adapting the high-throughput microfluidic sensor that he has developed to expedite the process of looking for neutralizing antibodies that  more

Texas Ector County Independent School District Selects Discovery Education Experience to Support Student Learning Over the Summer, Beyond
SILVER SPRING, Maryland, June 17 -- Discovery Education, a division of Discovery Communications, issued the following news release: Texas' Ector County Independent School District (ECISD) announced the selection of Discovery Education Experience to support both its current Virtual Summer School program and K-12 teaching and learning districtwide during the upcoming 2020-2021 school year. ECISD's use of Discovery Education's high-quality resources, instructional supports, and job-embedded profes  more

Texas Gov. Abbott Announces Film Friendly Texas Designation for the City of Burton
AUSTIN, Texas, June 19 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Governor Greg Abbott announced that the City of Burton, having completed the multi-step training and certification process, has been designated a Film Friendly Texas community by the Texas Film Commission, which helps to grow local jobs and local economies by promoting the Lone Star State as the premier destination for film, television, commercial, animation, visual effects and video game production. "I co  more

Texas Gov. Abbott Appoints Brooks as District Attorney for 50th Judicial District
AUSTIN, Texas, June 19 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Hunter Brooks as District Attorney for the 50th Judicial District in Baylor, Cottle, King and Knox Counties for a term set to expire December 31, 2020, or until his successor shall be duly elected and qualified. Hunter Brooks of Seymour is currently an Assistant District Attorney in the Wichita County District Attorney's Office. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas.   more

Texas Gov. Abbott Appoints Eight to Texas School Safety Center Board
AUSTIN, Texas, June 18 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Lizeth Cuellar and Michael Slaughter, Ph.D. to the Texas School Safety Center Board for terms set to expire February 1, 2021. Additionally, he has appointed Terri Oldham and reappointed Craig Bessent, Bryan Hedrick, Andrew Kim, Kerri Ranney, and Alan Trevino for terms set to expire on February 1, 2022. The board reports to the Governor, the legislature, the State Board of E  more

Texas Gov. Abbott Appoints Three to Small Business Assistance Advisory Task Force
AUSTIN, Texas, June 18 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Governor Greg Abbott has reappointed Michael Guyton and appointed Eduardo Contreras and Lisa Fullerton to the Small Business Assistance Advisory Task Force for terms set to expire June 14, 2021. The task force advises and assists the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House with issues that relate to small businesses, and provides information in plain language to the public on issues related to  more

Texas Gov. Abbott Reappoints Monson Chief Administrative Law Judge
AUSTIN, Texas, June 19 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Governor Greg Abbott has reappointed Kristofer Monson as the Chief Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) for the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) for a term set to expire on May 15, 2022. The Chief ALJ oversees SOAH, which is a forum for the conduct of adjudicative hearings in the executive branch of state government. Kristofer Monson of Driftwood has served as the Chief ALJ since April 2019, and p  more

Texas Gov. Abbott, Doctor John Zerwas Provide Update on Texas' Hospital Capacity
AUSTIN, Texas, June 17 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Governor Greg Abbott and Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs of the University of Texas (UT) System John Zerwas, MD, provided an update on Texas' hospital capacity. The Governor noted that despite an uptick in positive cases, there continues to be abundant hospital capacity. Governor Abbott also urged all Texans to continue to do their part to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and look out for the hea  more

Texas Pharmacy Association Recognizes University of Texas-Tyler Faculty
TYLER, Texas, June 16 -- The University of Texas's Tyler Campus issued the following news release: The University of Texas at Tyler announced today that two clinical assistant professors from the UT Tyler Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy have been recognized by the Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA) for outstanding community service and commitment to the profession. Dr. Takova Wallace-Gay earned the TPA 2020 Bowl of Hygeia Award, which recognizes a pharmacist who continually demonstrates  more

The Alamo Colleges District Stands With the Supreme Court on LGBTQ Rights
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, June 20 -- The Alamo Colleges District issued the following joint statement: The co-signers are Alamo Colleges Board Chair Marcelo Casillas, Chancellor Mike Flores, Northeast Lakeview College President Veronica Garcia, Northwest Vista College President Ric Neal Baser, Palo Alto College President Robert Garza, St. Philip's College President Adena Williams Loston and San Antonio College President Robert Vela. * * * In the midst of a worldwide pandemic and international prote  more

UC-San Diego: Sugar-Coating Disguise Allows for Coronavirus Infection
LA JOLLA, California, June 19 -- The University of California San Diego campus issued the following news: According to Mary Poppins, a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. In the case of coronavirus, a cloak of sugar helps the virus infect. This sugary-coating disguise, made of molecules called glycans, tricks the human immune system into identifying the microbe as harmless. The resulting recognition failure keeps the body from generating the defensive antibodies needed to destroy the   more

UC-San Diego: To Wear a Mask or Not, Is Not the Question
LA JOLLA, California, June 19 -- The University of California San Diego campus issued the following news: A team of scientists from the University of California San Diego, Caltech and Texas A&M remotely put their heads together to analyze the transmission pathways of COVID-19. Their study confirms that face coverings determine the pandemic's trends and significantly reduce the number of infections. Examining trends and mitigation measures in three epicenters--Wuhan, China; Italy and New York C  more

University of California-Davis: Juneteenth Marks End of a Sustained Slavery That Lasted Beyond Emancipation Proclamation
DAVIS, California, June 20 -- The University of California Davis campus issued the following news: More than two years after President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation (and had already been killed), almost five months since Congress passed the 13th Amendment, and more than two months after Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered his Confederate Army at the Appomattox Court House, all slaves were ordered free in Texas on June 19, 1865. This had to be done, UC Davis historians Jus  more

University of Connecticut Professor's Hashtag Goes Viral In Fight Against Racism
STORRS, Connecticut, June 20 -- The University of Connecticut issued the following news on June 19: Sharde M. Davis is an assistant professor in UConn's Department of Communication and a faculty affiliate of the Africana Studies Institute and the Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention and Policy. Davis, along with Joy Melody Woods, a graduate colleague of hers at the University of Iowa and now a doctoral student at the University of Texas, created a Twitter hashtag "#BlackInTheIvo  more

University of Houston: Cloning Stem Cells to Find a Cure for Crohn's Disease
HOUSTON, Texas, June 19 -- The University of Houston issued the following news release: For over a decade Wa Xian, research associate professor of biology and biochemistry at the University of Houston Stem Cell Center, has been perfecting technology for cloning stem cells. Now she is using it to take aim at pediatric Crohn's disease. Xian, who received a $1.9 million grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, along with Frank McKeon, professor of biology an  more

University of Minnesota: Commemorating Juneteenth
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, June 20 -- The University of Minnesota issued the following news release: As we reflect on the history of Juneteenth (June 19), Professor Keith Mayes in African American & African Studies in the College of Liberal Arts offers this description: "On June 19, 1865, General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to read a military order that stated enslaved Africans were free. This marks the beginning of Jubilee Day, or what became known as Juneteenth Day celebrations   more

University of North Texas Names Sanders as Associate Vice President for Enrollment and University Admissions
DENTON, Texas, June 16 -- The University of North Texas issued the following news release: Michael Sanders will join the University of North Texas as associate vice president for enrollment and university admissions on July 1, serving as a strategic partner to the university's administrators in furthering enrollment and recruitment initiatives. Sanders will lead the admissions team in support of enrollment objectives as well as employ strategic tools to improve our recruiting and processing c  more

University of St. Thomas Names Enzler as Dean for Cameron School of Business
HOUSTON, Texas, June 15 -- The University of St. Thomas issued the following news release: Dr. Mario Enzler, UST's gregarious and diversely accomplished new dean for the Cameron School of Business (CSB), is further distinguished by having known two saints -- Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa. He came to know them both while working as a Swiss Guard for the Holy Father. The relationships gave him inspiring and humorous stories which would later fill a book--and had a transformative impact on t  more

University of St. Thomas: Perfect-fit New MLAs in Business and Education
HOUSTON, Texas, June 16 -- The University of St. Thomas issued the following news release: Attractive alternatives to a traditional MBA or MEd now are available to Master in Liberal Arts students at the University of St. Thomas. Within its 16 areas of concentration, the MLA program adds specializations in Business and Education. Director of Masters in Liberal Arts, Thomas Behr, JD, Ph.D., explained that the new concentrations reflect the University's approach to a Catholic liberal arts educati  more

University of Texas Dallas: Researcher Receives NSF Grant to Advance Software Debugging Technology
RICHARDSON, Texas, June 19 -- The University of Texas Dallas campus issued the following news release: Hunting for software bugs that might be hidden in millions of lines of code can be a painstaking and expensive task. Even the best automated testing and debugging systems cannot detect and fix all possible mistakes, which can affect everything from phone apps to aircraft safety. Dr. Lingming Zhang, assistant professor of computer science in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer   more

University of Texas Tyler Promotes STEM Research With Summer Program
TYLER, Texas, June 20 -- The University of Texas's Tyler Campus issued the following news release: The University of Texas at Tyler announced that the University and Tyler Junior College are community partners in the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Summer Research Academy to enhance STEM research and education. Two UT Tyler students and two TJC students have been accepted as 2020 fellows. Participants are mentored by UT Tyler College of Arts and Sciences and College of Enginee  more

University of Texas-Arlington: $5 Device Could Deliver COVID-19 Test Results in 10 Minutes
ARLINGTON, Texas, June 20 -- The University of Texas Arlington campus issued the following news release: A researcher at The University of Texas at Arlington is developing a $5 portable device that can deliver COVID-19 testing results on-site in about 10 minutes. Seong Jin Koh, professor of material science and engineering, received a National Science Foundation (NSF) RAPID grant to develop the device, which will be about the size of a person's thumb. Health officials will use the current swa  more

University of Texas: Beetle That Can Survive in Volcanic Areas Inspires New Cooling Materials
AUSTIN, Texas, June 16 -- The University of Texas issued the following news release on June 15: A type of beetle capable of regulating its body temperature in some of the hottest places on Earth is the centerpiece of new research with major potential implications for cooling everything from buildings to electronic devices in an environmentally friendly manner. Researchers in the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, with teams from Shanghai Jiao Tong University i  more

University of Texas: Egg From Antarctica is Big and Might Belong to an Extinct Sea Lizard
AUSTIN, Texas, June 18 -- The University of Texas issued the following news release on June 17: In 2011, Chilean scientists discovered a mysterious fossil in Antarctica that looked like a deflated football. For nearly a decade, the specimen sat unlabeled and unstudied in the collections of Chile's National Museum of Natural History, with scientists identifying it only by its sci-fi movie-inspired nickname - "The Thing." An analysis led by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin has fo  more

University of Texas: Old Drug Standards Delay New Drug Approvals
AUSTIN, Texas, June 20 -- The University of Texas issued the following news release: During the next year, the Food and Drug Administration will review many new drug applications for preventing and treating the new coronavirus. But early approvals could get delayed by the standards the agency used for older drugs, according to new research from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. In a forthcoming paper published online in advance by the Strategic Management Jou  more

UNT's New MBA in Music Business Equips Future Music Professionals With an Interdisciplinary Mindset
DENTON, Texas, June 17 -- The University of North Texas issued the following news release: The University of North Texas G. Brint Ryan College of Business and College of Music will introduce an MBA in music business this fall. The new offering will instill future music professionals with an interdisciplinary mindset by blending business-administration and music-entrepreneurship curricula. Students from all musical backgrounds will learn management, marketing, finance, media and other skills n  more

UT Austin Collaborative Tackles Math and Computer Science Teaching Shortages in Texas
AUSTIN, Texas, June 17 -- The University of Texas at Austin's Texas Advanced Computing Center issued the following news release on June 16: The improvement of middle school mathematics presents one of the most important and enduring educational challenges in the United States. Two organizations from the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin--the Charles A. Dana Center and UTeach--along with WeTeach_CS from the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC), have partnered to   more

Va. Gov. Northam to Make Juneteenth a State Holiday
RICHMOND, Virginia, June 17 -- Gov. Ralph S. Northam, R-Virginia, issued the following news release: Governor Ralph Northam announced that he intends to mark Juneteenth as a permanent paid state holiday, starting by giving state employees a day off this Friday, June 19. Virginia has long marked Juneteenth by issuing a proclamation, but the date has not previously been considered a state holiday. Juneteenth is the oldest known commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. It marks t  more

Virginia Gov. Northam Issues Proclamation on Juneteenth
RICHMOND, Virginia, June 19 -- Gov. Ralph S. Northam, R-Virginia, issued the following proclamation: WHEREAS, Juneteenth commemorates the events of June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger led Union soldiers into Galveston, Texas, bringing news that the Civil War had ended and that the Emancipation Proclamation had declared all enslaved people free nearly two and a half years earlier; and WHEREAS, Juneteenth celebrations take place annually throughout the Commonwealth and the nation--   more

Wayland Baptist University Names Palmer as Director of Lubbock Campus
LUBBOCK, Texas, June 19 -- Wayland Baptist University issued the following news release: Wayland Baptist University introduced Dr. Elyn Palmer as the new Executive Director and Dean of the Lubbock campus at a staff meeting Thursday afternoon. The move takes effect on July 1. Palmer is replacing Dr. David Bishop who will move into a new role with the university. Palmer comes to Wayland from the University of the Southwest in Hobbs, N.M., where she served most recently as the Dean for the Colleg  more

West Texas A&M University: New Online Graduate Degree Programs Announced to Offer Increased Flexibility
CANYON, Texas, June 20 -- West Texas A&M University issued the following news: As more adults reconsider career options in the wake of record unemployment numbers and other job insecurities, West Texas A&M University offers two new master's programs that can be taken completely online, providing flexibility while maintaining an excellence in education. Students are now being accepted to study for master's degrees in English and a master's degree in communication with a specialization in media   more