WASHINGTON, July 8 -- The Appalachian Regional Commission issued the following news release: This week, 19 rising high-school seniors from 9 Appalachian states began the Appalachian Entrepreneurship Academy (AEA)--a 12-month, free, blended learning curriculum featuring working modules led by regional experts in business planning, market analysis, product development and other entrepreneurial services. As part of the program, students will participate in a 4-week summer intensive online training  more

BOONE, North Carolina, July 6 -- Appalachian Voices issued the following statement on July 5 by Executive Director Tom Cormons: Duke Energy and Dominion Energy canceled the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP), a proposed 600-mile fracked gas transmission line planned to span West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina, citing economic uncertainty and continued delays. The massive fossil fuel project has been riddled with problems, having eight required permits vacated by courts or suspended by govern  more

BOONE, North Carolina, July 7 -- Appalachian Voices issued the following news release on July 1: Duke Energy and Dominion Energy canceled the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP), a proposed 600-mile fracked gas transmission line planned to span West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina, citing economic uncertainty and continued delays. The massive fossil fuel project has been riddled with problems, having eight required permits vacated by courts or suspended by government agencies. Originally propo  more

WASHINGTON, July 7 -- Rep. Nita M. Lowey, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release: The House Appropriations Committee released the draft fiscal year 2021 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies funding bill, which will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow. The legislation funds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of the Interior programs, the Department of Energy, and other related agencies. For fiscal year 2021, the   more

BERKELEY, California, July 7 -- As You Sow Foundation issued the following news release: Duke Energy and Dominion Energy, two of the nation's largest utility companies, announced Sunday the cancelation of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, a 600-mile natural gas pipeline that would have crossed West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina, and under the Appalachian Trail. The companies cite "ongoing delays and increasing cost uncertainty which threaten the economic viability of the project." Dominion   more

NORTHAMPTON, Massachusetts, July 7 -- The Center for Public Representation issued the following news on July 6: A coalition of nearly 50 advocacy groups and state legislators, led by the Center for Public Representation, The Arc of the United States, The Arc of Virginia, and the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, sent a letter calling on Virginia Governor Northam to right a decade of unjust treatment in a criminal justice system infected with systemic racism and ableism faced by Reginald "Neli" La  more

WASHINGTON, July 7 -- The U.S. Department of Energy issued the following statement by Secretary Dan Brouillette on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline: "The well-funded, obstructionist environmental lobby has successfully killed the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which would have lowered energy costs for consumers in North Carolina and Virginia by providing them with an affordable, abundant, and reliable natural gas supply from the Appalachian region. "This project also would have injected millions into the  more

FAIRMONT, West Virginia, July 10 -- Fairmont State University issued the following news story: Fairmont State University's Creative Sustainability Council (CSC), a campus organization focused on sustainability initiatives for the University and community, has been awarded a grant of $27,120 from the Appalachian Stewardship Foundation (ASF) to implement two sustainability initiatives on campus this summer. These initiatives have been designed in partnership with Aladdin Food Service and the Fair  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, July 10 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, as well as the Co-Chairman of the Senate Broadband Caucus, applauded the efforts of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and their support for telehealth initiatives in West Virginia. Over the past three months, the FCC has approved several telehealth app  more

BASEL, Switzerland, July 9 -- Fire, an open-access journal about the science, policy and technology of vegetation fires and how they interact with communities and the environment, published research articles on the following topics in its June 2020 edition: Article: * Evaluating the Drought Code Using In Situ Drying Timelags of Feathermoss Duff in Interior Alaska * Preceding Fall Drought Conditions and Overwinter Precipitation Effects on Spring Wildland Fire Activity in Canada * A Conceptua  more

BOULDER, Colorado, July 7 -- The Geological Society of America issued the following news release: Each year the Geological Society of America (GSA) recognizes outstanding scientific achievement and distinguished service to the geoscience profession. In a typical year, honorees are recognized at the Presidential Address and Awards Ceremony as part of the Society's Annual Meeting. During the COVID pandemic, however, the meeting has transitioned to an online event for scientific exchange, and plan  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, July 10 -- Gov. Roy Cooper, D-North Carolina, issued the following news release: An effort by Governor Roy Cooper's administration is matching North Carolina college students in need of work experience with local governments and nonprofits seeking additional help to support COVID-19 response efforts. The COVID-19 pandemic caused many North Carolina students to lose summer jobs and internships lined up months ago. At the same time, many local governments and nonprofits   more

BASEL, Switzerland, July 6 -- Minerals, an open access journal that says it covers mineralogy, economic mineral resources, mineral exploration, innovative mining techniques and advances in mineral processing, published research articles, including the following topics, in its June 2020 edition: Articles: * The Depressing Effect of Kaolinite on Molybdenite Flotation in Seawater * Leaching of Rare Earth Elements from Central Appalachian Coal Seam Underclays * Retention of Contaminants Elements  more

MEDFORD, Massachusetts, July 6 -- Molecular Ecology, a journal that says it addresses questions in ecology, evolution, behaviour and conservation, published research articles on the following topics in Part 2 of its June 2020 edition: ORIGINAL ARTICLES: * Influence of Paleolithic range contraction, admixture and long-distance dispersal on genetic gradients of modern humans in Asia * Divergent and linked selection shape patterns of genomic differentiation between European and North American At  more

WASHINGTON, July 8 -- The National Parks Conservation Association issued the following news release: The National Parks Conservation Association joins fellow conservation advocates and diverse communities along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in celebrating recent news that Dominion Energy and Duke Energy will cancel the ill-conceived Atlantic Coast Pipeline. This 600-mile pipeline would have cut under the Appalachian Trail and the Blue Ridge Parkway, adversely impacting waterways, wildl  more

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, July 8 -- The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry issued the following statement by President and CEO Gene Barr after the announcement that Dominion and Duke Energy have cancelled the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline project: "This news is unfortunately another example of how difficult it has become to build the necessary infrastructure to power a 21st century economy in this country. Now, more than ever, state and federal lawmakers must enact and support ref  more

COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 10 -- Policy Matters Ohio, a 501(c)3 non-profit and nonpartisan state policy research institute, issued the following news release: If Congress doesn't allocate enough support in the next stimulus bill, Ohio could lose 204,000 child care slots, according to a new report from Policy Matters Ohio. Policy Matters released the report at a press conference with the Ohio Organizing Collaborative (OOC). Child care has been one of the biggest societal challenges during the COVID-1  more

WASHINGTON, July 7 -- Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, issued the following news release: The House Appropriations Committee and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies, released the draft fiscal year 2021 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies funding bill, which will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow. The legislation funds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of the Interior p  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Carol Miller, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) announced two grants, totaling $1,500,000, from the Appalachian Regional Commission to help small businesses in Southern West Virginia recover from COVID-19. The full breakdown of funding is below. "Local businesses are the foundation of towns and cities across Southern West Virginia, and we must help them get the relief they need to recover from this health crisis," s  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Carol Miller, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) announced a grant worth $250,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission to the West Virginia Development Office for the West Virginia Consolidated Technical Assistance Program. The grant will be used to aid in technical assistance and help communities with economic development initiatives. "It is critical that we reinvest in West Virginia to rebuild our economy as we  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, July 6 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following statement on the announcement that the Atlantic Coast Pipeline project has been cancelled: "I'm disappointed to learn plans to build the Atlantic Coast Pipeline have been cancelled. The Atlantic Coast Pipeline project took meaningful steps to ensure the pipeline was safely constructed and the Appalachian Trail and surrounding areas were protected. "The pipeline would have created good paying construct  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, July 9 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, applauded the allocation of $6 million from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to support small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. "This funding is great news, especially as we continue to battle the economic hardship stemming from the COVID-19  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, July 9 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, applauded the allocation of $6 million from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to support small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our small businesses are vital to our communities and the state economy, and right now Main Street needs help. As West Virginia  more

PARIS, France, July 11 -- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization issued the following news release: UNESCO's Executive Boards has approved the designation of 15 new UNESCO Global Geoparks, which brings the number of sites participating in the Global Geoparks Network to 161 in 44 countries. The Executive Board also approved the extension of the Kula-Salihli UNESCO Global Geopark in Turkey. UNESCO Global Geoparks were designated for the first time in Nicaragua, the   more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colorado, issued the following news release: The Problem Solvers Caucus officially endorsed U.S. Senator Cory Gardner's (R-CO)Great American Outdoors Act, a landmark conservation bill that will help ensure public lands are protected and preserved. The bipartisan legislation passed the Senate 73-25 and would provide full, permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at a level of $900 million every year and address the approximatel  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, July 9 -- The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation issued the following news: The New River Land Trust has donated a 66-acre property in Floyd County to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, completing a conservation project that began years prior and involved numerous additional public and private partners. NRLT had owned the property since 2018 with the intention of one day donating it to DCR. The land is permanently protected as part of th  more

GLENVILLE, West Virginia, July 8 -- Glenville State College issued the following news release: Organizers at Glenville State College's Pioneer Stage have applied for and been awarded a $10,000 grant from the West Virginia Humanities Council as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. GSC's Pioneer Stage is located 10 East Main Street in downtown Glenville and is the college's Bluegrass Music Education Center. The West Virginia Humanities Council, the state affili  more