Friday - March 29, 2024
Tipoffs for Beckley, West Virginia (Appalachian) Newsletter for Sunday August 02, 2020 ( 27 items )  

2020-2021 Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation Tours Grants Announced
BALTIMORE, Maryland, July 28 -- The Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation issued the following news release on July 27: Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation (MAAF) has awarded $148,520 in grants supporting 59 performing arts engagements through its 2020-2021 Mid Atlantic Tours program. The grants, awarded directly to presenting organizations, will support engagements in MAAF's partner states and jurisdictions. Mid Atlantic Tours is a curated roster program of performing artists and ensembles chosen to tour thro  more

Appalachian Power Awards More Than $13,000 in Teacher Vision Grants
CHARLESTON, West Virginia, July 29 -- Appalachian Power issued the following news release: Appalachian Power has awarded more than $13,000 in AEP Teacher Vision Grants to educators in Virginia and West Virginia to enrich their classrooms. The AEP Teacher Vision Grant program provides aid ranging from $100 to $500 to classroom teachers. "These grants are designed to reward the talents and creativity of pre-K through grade 12 educators devoted to motivating youth to think creatively, to step int  more

Appalachian Voices: Legal Action Challenges Duke Energy's Buildout of Unapproved Gas-Fired Power Units
DURHAM, North Carolina, July 31 -- Appalachian Voices issued the following news release: Climate-justice groups filed a legal petition with the North Carolina Utilities Commission asserting that Duke Energy -- one of the top polluting U.S. utilities -- is violating state law by quietly building large amounts of inefficient gas-burning capacity without commission approval. Duke Energy has 24 more efficient gas units sitting idle, but is building new gas capacity at many of its coal-burning plan  more

Army Announces Panel for Fort Hood Independent Review
WASHINGTON, July 31 -- The U.S. Army issued the following news release on July 30: The Secretary of the Army announced the five civilian highly qualified experts who will lead the independent review of Fort Hood. "Thank you to the members of the panel who have agreed to take time from their lives to support our independent review," Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy said. "The Army is committed to taking care of our Soldiers, civilians, families, and Soldiers for life, and this independent  more

Center for Biological Diversity: Legal Action Challenges Duke Energy's Buildout of Unapproved Gas-fired Power Units
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- The Center for Biological Diversity issued the following news release: Climate-justice groups filed a legal petition with the North Carolina Utilities Commission today asserting that Duke Energy -- one of the top polluting U.S. utilities -- is violating state law by quietly building large amounts of inefficient gas-burning capacity without commission approval. Duke Energy has 24 more efficient gas units sitting idle, but is building new gas capacity at many of its coal-bu  more

Chattanooga State Receives $200K Appalachian Regional Commission Grant
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee., July 25 -- Chattanooga State Community College issued the following news release: Chattanooga State Community College recently received a $200K Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant to purchase training equipment for a new workforce training instructional site in Rhea County. The equipment will be installed in mobile labs built adjacent to the Nokian Tyres plant, enabling the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) to offer Industrial Electricity and Indust  more

Congressional Research Service Report: 'Federal Land Ownership: Overview & Data'
WASHINGTON, July 28 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R42346) entitled "Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data" by Carol Hardy Vincent, specialist in natural resources policy and Laura A. Hanson, senior research librarian, on Feb. 21: Summary: The federal government owns roughly 640 million acres, about 28% of the 2.27 billion acres of land in the United States. Four major federal land management agencies administer 606.5 million acres of this land (as o  more

Congressional Research Service Report: 'Federally Supported Projects & Programs for Wastewater, Drinking Water & Water Supply Infrastructure'
WASHINGTON, July 31 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R46471) entitled "Federally Supported Projects and Programs for Wastewater, Drinking Water, and Water Supply Infrastructure": Here are excerpts of the report issued on July 30 and was co-authored by Jonathan L. Ramseur, coordinator and specialist in environmental policy, Tadlock Cowan, analyst in natural resources and rural development, Elena H. Humphreys, analyst in environmental policy, Julie M. Lawhorn  more

Congressional Research Service Report: 'The Federal Role in Historic Preservation: An Overview'
WASHINGTON, July 28 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45800) entitled "The Federal Role in Historic Preservation: An Overview" by Mark K. DeSantis, analyst in natural resources policy, on April 7: Summary: During the 20th century, Congress passed several laws that established a framework for federal historic preservation activities. The most comprehensive of these statutes is the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA; P.L. 89-665). NHPA created   more

Congressional Research Service Report: 'The National Trails System: A Brief Overview'
WASHINGTON, July 28 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R43868) entitled "The National Trails System: A Brief Overview" by Mark K. DeSantis, analyst in natural resources policy and Sandra L. Johnson, information research specialist, on Feb. 20: Summary: The National Trails System was created in 1968 by the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. Sec.Sec.1241-1251). The system includes four types of trails: (1) national scenic trails (NSTs), which display signif  more

House of Representatives Passes Rep. Trone Provision to Address Mental Health During COVID-19
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Rep. David Trone, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill authored by Rep. David Trone (MD-06) to establish an interagency Task Force to mitigate the effects of trauma on children and families as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill passed as part of a package of government funding legislation, which also contains major victories for every county in Maryland's 6th District. The provisions include funding for the  more

N.C. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources Arts Council Distributes National Endowment CARES Act Funds
RALEIGH, North Carolina, July 29 -- The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources' Arts Council issued the following news release: More than 100 nonprofit arts organizations across the state have been awarded CARES Grants from the North Carolina Arts Council. Through the one-time funding opportunity, $480,000 will help arts groups preserve jobs and maintain organizational stability during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Grants were made possible by federal funding provided t  more

N.Y. Gov. Cuomo Announces Grants Awarded to Nonprofits Supporting Stewardship of 29 State Parks
ALBANY, New York, Aug. 1 -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D-New York, issued the following news release on July 31: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Department of Environmental Conservation, and the advocacy group Parks & Trails New York have awarded grants to support not-for-profit organizations involved with stewardship of 29 State Parks, historic sites and public lands. The 29 grants provided to partner organizations will help   more

North Carolina Waste Awareness: Legal Action Challenges Duke Energy's Buildout of Unapproved Gas-Fired Power Units
DURHAM, North Carolina, July 31 -- The North Carolina Waste Awareness and Reduction Network issued the following news release: Climate-justice groups filed a legal petition with the North Carolina Utilities Commission today asserting that Duke Energy -- one of the top polluting U.S. utilities -- is violating state law by quietly building large amounts of inefficient gas-burning capacity without commission approval. Duke Energy has 24 more efficient gas units sitting idle, but is building new g  more

ONLINE Aug. 7, 2020: Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication Schedules Online Session on Best of Electronic News
COLUMBIA, South Carolina, July 31 -- The Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication will host an online session entitled "The Best of Electronic News" as part of the AEJMC 2020 Virtual Conference on Aug. 7 from 8:15 a.m.-9:45 a.m.: Agenda and speakers include: * What is Digital Journalism? Defining the Practice and Role of the Digital Journalist* Speakers: Gregory Perreault, Appalachian State; Patrick Ferrucci, Colorado; Anna Dollar, Appalachian State * Like, Comment, or   more

Rep. Cartwright Passes FY21 Funding Bill to Invest in Coal Communities, Small Businesses, Broadband Expansion
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) voted to pass the second fiscal year 2021 "minibus" appropriations package on the House floor. It now advances to the U.S. Senate for consideration. "I'm proud that we're prioritizing critical investments in former coal communities, funding to combat opioid addition, grants for manufacturers and small businesses, pay raises for our servicemembers, common-se  more

Rep. Kuster, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Protect National Scenic Trails From Pipeline Development
WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Rep. Ann Kuster, D-New Hampshire, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), Congressman Richard E. Neal (MA-01), Congressman Tom Malinowski (NJ-07), Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08), and Congressman James P. McGovern (MA-02) introduced the Scenic Trail Viewshed Protection Act. This legislation will help protect our national scenic trails by requiring stricter evaluation of natural gas pipeline projects that seek to cross these trails or their   more

Rep. Lowey: House to Consider Six-Bill Appropriations Minibus This Week
WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. Nita M. Lowey, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release: In advance of Floor consideration this week, the House Appropriations Committee released a division-by-division summary of the second minibus of fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills. The House is expected to consider the legislation, H.R. 7617, beginning this week. The package includes six FY 2021 spending bills: Defense, Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy   more

Rep. McHenry Introduces Legislation to Reauthorize the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: Congressman Patrick McHenry (NC-10) introduced legislation to reauthorize the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area. This bill extends the authorization period of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area--parts of which are in the Tenth District--through September 30, 2036. "The Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina are home to a rich history that is cherished in North Carolina and around the  more

Rep. Miller Announces $1.3 Million in CARES Act Funding to Airports Across Southern West Virginia
WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. Carol Miller, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) announced 4 grants from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to Mercer County, Appalachian Regional, Logan County, and Raleigh County Memorial Airports. This funding is made available through the CARES Act that was passed by Congress earlier this year. A full break down of each grant is below. "As we recover from this public health emergency we must strengthen ou  more

Rep. Raskin, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Protect National Scenic Trails From Pipeline Development
WASHINGTON, July 31 -- Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, issued the following news release on July 30: Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), Congressman Richard E. Neal (MA-01), Congressman Tom Malinowski (NJ-07), Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08), and Congressman James P. McGovern (MA-02) introduced the Scenic Trail Viewshed Protection Act. This legislation will help protect our national scenic trails by requiring stricter evaluation of natural gas pipeline projects that seek to cross these trails o  more

Reps. McKinley, Miller Introduce Bill to Boost Natural Gas Exports to Strengthen Allies
WASHINGTON, July 30 -- Rep. David McKinley, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release: Representatives David B. McKinley, P.E. (R-W.Va.) and Carol Miller (R-W.Va.) introduced the Energy Security Cooperation with Allied Partners in Europe (ESCAPE) Act. The bill would increase energy security for all NATO allies, help NATO allies strengthen their own national security, and expedite approval of U.S. energy exports. "Russian President Vladimir Putin uses Russia's natural gas to threaten o  more

Sen. Manchin Receives Assurances West Virginia Post Offices Will Remain Open for Now
CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Aug. 1 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) received assurances from the U.S. Postal Service that the post office closings throughout West Virginia were a misunderstanding and there will be no post office closings at this time. However, the letter also stated that the Appalachian District identified 12 post offices for feasibility studies for potential closure and 24 locations for reduced hours. "Whi  more

Southern Environmental Law Center: Government Illegally 'Cut Corners' to Ram Through NEPA Changes
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, July 30 -- The Southern Environmental Law Center issued the following news release: A group of 17 environmental organizations in a lawsuit accused the government of racing through an industry-friendly rewrite of the National Environmental Policy Act by "cutting corners" and discarding decades of rule-making policies that ensure major legal changes are done fairly and transparently. If allowed to stand, the changes to NEPA - often called the "Magna Carta of environmen  more

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $7.8 Million in CARES Act Funding to Boost Capacity of Universities Across Nation to Help Communities, Businesses Respond To, Recover From Economic Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration issued the following news release on July 30: The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $7.8 million in EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to universities across the nation to boost their capacity to support regional economic development strategies in response to the coronavirus pandemic. "The Trump Administration is eager to allocate these essential C  more

W.Va. Gov. Justice Directs Additional Aid to City of Gary, Dispatching Officials to Develop Long-Term Water System Solutions
CHARLESTON, West Virginia, July 29 -- Gov. Jim Justice, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release on July 28: Gov. Jim Justice has ordered the West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) and the West Virginia Emergency Management Division (WVEMD) to provide all necessary resources to the City of Gary, West Virginia, and other residents of McDowell County, following a recent water system outage in the city. The outage began when the main pump serving the City of Gary water system abruptly stop  more

Walmart Foundation Grant to Expand Access to Healthy Foods in West Virginia, Give Boost to State Agriculture Industry
MORGANTOWN, West Virginia, July 28 -- West Virginia University issued the following story: Fresh, healthy foods can be difficult to find in rural West Virginia communities. This isn't only evident at the dinner table, its impact shows up at the doctor's office, too. One in four of the state's rural residents is food insecure, and with the recent public health crisis, it is anticipated that more West Virginians will not have reliable access to food. Food insecurity directly affects the state's  more