MUNCIE, Indiana, June 24 -- Ball State University issued the following news: Restoring the Wabash River to its preindustrial state by using a toolbox of modern conservation applications would serve as an example for states and even some nations to fix their large waterways, says a Ball State University researcher. In his paper, "Conservation potential of North American large rivers: the Wabash River compared with the Ohio and Illinois rivers," Mark Pyron, the George and Frances Ball Endowed Ch  more

VICKSBURG, Mississippi, June 24 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Vicksburg District issued the following news release: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District notified local authorities and emergency management personnel of the need to open the gates of the Muddy Bayou Control Structure, located 13 miles northwest of Vicksburg, Mississippi, in the Yazoo River Basin, within the next four-to-five days. Once conditions allow, the gates at Muddy Bayou will be operated to beg  more

WASHINGTON, June 24 -- Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., issued the following news release: Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that she will introduce legislation to remove the Andrew Jackson statue from Lafayette Park in the District of Columbia, citing Jackson's ownership of slaves and genocide of Native Americans. "My bill to remove this statue of an unabashed racist from Lafayette Park will be introduced next week," Norton said. "Lafayette Park itself has a painful past  more

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, June 25 -- Delgado Community College issued the following news: Venture Global LNG Inc. officially kicked off its Will to Skill program in Plaquemines Parish, LA, on Wednesday, June 10. The inaugural class, which is administered through Delgado Community College, aims to provide students with the opportunity to earn a nationally recognized National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) certification. The first cohort of 19 students will receive training  more

WASHINGTON, June 23 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release on June 22: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is providing an additional $840 thousand to the 12 state members of the Hypoxia Task Force (HTF), expanding the $1.2 million that the agency already announced in August 2019. EPA's more than $2 million in funding is helping HTF states implement plans that accelerate progress on reducing excess nutrients and improving water qual  more

NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey, June 27 -- Rutgers University issued the following news: There's some good news in New Jersey about a potentially deadly tick-borne bacterium. Rutgers researchers examined more than 3,000 ticks in the Garden State and found only one carrying Rickettsia rickettsii, the bacterium that causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever. But cases of tick-borne spotted fevers have increased east of the Mississippi River, and more research is needed to understand why, according to a stu  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: Q: What is the Great American Outdoors Act? A: Last year, Congress permanently reauthorized the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), ensuring a federal commitment to conservation, habitat protection, water quality and access to outdoor recreation. The 56-year-old federal law provides funds to federal land management agencies and matching grants to the states to help boost outdoor recreational opport  more