BOONE, North Carolina, Nov. 18 -- Appalachian Voices issued the following news release on Nov. 17: Fewer than half of Tennessee's electric cooperatives allow their member-owners to attend board meetings, and only three offer community solar programs. These are two of the findings in a new report released today by Appalachian Voices and two rural community groups evaluating the performance of Tennessee's electric co-ops on a number of issues, from governance and finances to the programs they mak  more

BETHANY, West Virginia, Nov. 20 (TNSPer) -- Bethany College issued the following news: The director of Bethany College's McCann Learning Center is a founding member of the Appalachian College Association's Virtual Teaching and Learning Center. Heather Taylor, who is also an assistant professor of English at Bethany, will serve a three-year appointment on the board for a consortium-wide, virtual teaching and learning center for faculty and staff at ACA member institutions. "I'm honored to have  more

BRUNSWICK, Maine, Nov. 17 (TNSRes) -- Bowdoin College issued the following news: It's the morning after the election that brought Donald Trump to power in 2016, and Morgan Edwards knows it's going to be a tough day at Mountain Ridge High School in Frostburg, Maryland--the heart of Appalachian coal country. As a student, Edwards was known as an outspoken liberal, something that very much set him apart from the crowd. He recalls that morning in the introductory passage of his book An Outlier's T  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 -- The Congressional Budget Office issued the following cost estimate for the America's Water Infrastructure Act (S. 3591): The bill would: * Authorize appropriations for 18 grant programs of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to fund clean- water infrastructure projects and programs * Authorize appropriations for the Army Corps of Engineers to construct 29 new water infrastructure projects * Authorize appropriations for the subsidy cost of loans made under EPA'  more

JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, Nov. 19 (TNSCon) -- East Tennessee State University issued the following news: Two new minors and new coursework are now available in the Bluegrass, Old-Time and Country Music Studies program in East Tennessee State University's Department of Appalachian Studies. In addition to majoring in bluegrass, old-time and country music, students can now minor in old-time music and in Scottish and Irish music. New classes in these genres offer unique, hands-on experiences for s  more

JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, Nov. 20 (TNSRep) -- East Tennessee State University issued the following news on Nov. 19: Appalachian Diseases of Despair, a new report from the Appalachian Regional Commission finds that despite overall declining mortality rates from diseases of despair (overdose, suicide, and liver disease) between 2017-2018, the Region's diseases of despair mortality rate in 2018 was still 36 percent higher than the rate for the non-Appalachian United States. Moreover, among Appalach  more

JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, Nov. 21 -- East Tennessee State University issued the following news: Courtney Vance Burgin, a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) student at East Tennessee State University's College of Nursing, is one of only 16 people in the country selected for the National Rural Health Association's 2021 Rural Health Fellows program. After a competitive review process, 16 fellows were selected to participate in this yearlong, intensive program aimed at developing leaders who can arti  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- Environment America issued the following news release: The Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt issued a new order Friday giving states and local governments the power to veto land acquisitions made through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The order comes just months after bipartisan majorities in both the House and the Senate voted to permanently expand LWCF through the Great American Outdoors Act. From well-known wonders like the Grand Canyon to histo  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued the following statement on Nov. 19 by Commissioner Richard Glick regarding PJM Interconnection (Docket No. ER20-841-001): I support the goal of mitigating the critical facilities identified pursuant to Reliability Standard CIP-014-2. As the Department of Energy explained, protecting against physical and cyber threats to critical infrastructure is a national priority and the Commission itself has r  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- The Food and Water Watch issued the following news release on Nov. 18: Yesterday the Prince William County Board of Supervisors voted 5-3 to pass the county's very first climate resolution. The resolution pledges Prince William County government operations will source 100% of their energy from renewable sources by 2030, with the entire county sourcing 100% of their energy from renewable sources by 2035. The resolution also commits to reaching 100% carbon neutrality by 205  more

BRONX, New York, Nov. 9 -- The Fordham Political Review issued the following commentary by Briana Al-Omoush: Without a doubt, Gen Z receives a majority of its political news on social media. Not only is this harmful and often misleading, but the consumption of political news via social media has also led to an increased infatuation with politicians. As a new voter, I had not been very aware of politics until the Trump administration. However, I recognize that there was a great love of President  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Nov. 19 (TNSPer) -- Gov. Roy Cooper, D-North Carolina, issued the following news release on Nov. 18: Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced new appointments to boards and commissions across North Carolina. Gov. Cooper has appointed the following individuals to the Governor's Advisory Council on Aging: * Culey V. Kilimanjaro of Greensboro as a member at-large. Kilimanjaro is the Associate Publisher and Advertising Director at The Carolina Peacemaker, and has worked at t  more

ALBANY, New York, Nov. 17 -- The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued the following news release: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and partners have completed this year's treatment to control and prevent the spread of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) on Forest Preserve lands in Washington County, as part of an ongoing, multi-year effort. DEC confirmed the HWA infestation in August. The affected hemlock trees were located in the Glen Island   more

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, Nov. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory issued the following news: Across Appalachia, natural gas producers are supporting the energy security of the United States as they continue to tap the vast shale gas resources of the region. Shale gas is used for heating and power production, but the chemical industry also relies heavily on natural gas as a feedstock to manufacture valuable chemicals. With some of the world's most cuttin  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Alabama, issued the following news release on Nov. 17: Today, Congressman Robert Aderholt, (AL-04) announced the hiring of new Legislative Assistant Ryan Diffley and the promotions of Aspen Frederick and Laura Titus. "I'm pleased to announce that we have hired Ryan Diffley to be a new legislative assistant. Ryan is coming to us from former Representative Tom Graves' office. Working for a fellow member of the Appropriations Committee, Ryan gained a  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 -- Rep. TJ Cox, D-California, issued the following news release on Nov. 20: Yesterday, Rep. TJ Cox (CA-21) introduced a bill that would bring more economic development resources to the Central Valley. H.R. 8783, would add Fresno, Kern, Kings, and Tulare Counties to the Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC). State and local agencies, government entities, universities, and nonprofit organizations within a federal regional commission are eligible to receive program grant  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 -- Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 20: Today, Congressman Jamie Raskin, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) seeking documents about its procedures for resolving conflicts between landowners and natural gas pipeline construction companies. "Specifically, the Subcommittee request  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- Rep. David Trone, D-Maryland, issued the following news release on Nov. 16: U.S. Congressman David Trone, and Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (all D-Md.) today announced $100,000 in federal funding to purchase training equipment for the Allegany College of Maryland Allied Health Simulation Workforce Development Program. Funding comes from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and will benefit hundreds of students in the Western Maryland region. Allegany Colle  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- Rep. David Trone, D-Maryland, issued the following news release on Nov. 17: Today, Congressman David Trone (MD-06) and a coalition of stakeholders from Maryland and Pennsylvania announced $6 million in funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for preliminary engineering work on the Pennsylvania portion of U.S. Route 219, signaling a commitment to beginning construction on the 11-mile corridor connecting Maryland and Pennsylvania within the next 10 years.  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The Appalachian Regional Commission issued the following news release on Nov. 19: Appalachian Diseases of Despair, a new report from the Appalachian Regional Commission finds that despite overall declining mortality rates from diseases of despair (overdose, suicide, and liver disease) between 2017-2018, the Region's diseases of despair mortality rate in 2018 was still 36 percent higher than the rate for the non-Appalachian United States. Moreover, among Appalachians in th  more

JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, Nov. 20 (TNSRep) -- The National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago issued the following news release: Appalachian Diseases of Despair, a new report from the Appalachian Regional Commission finds that despite overall declining mortality rates from diseases of despair (overdose, suicide, and liver disease) between 2017-2018, the Region's diseases of despair mortality rate in 2018 was still 36 percent higher than the rate for the non-Appalachian United S  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Sen. Joe Manchin III, D-West Virginia, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 18: Yesterday, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Ranking Member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, requested an update from U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette on a Congressionally-sanctioned report of a proposed Appalachian Storage Hub. The report was authorized in the Fiscal Year 2020 Approprat  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Maryland, issued the following news release on Nov. 16: U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $100,000 in federal funding to purchase training equipment for the Allegany College of Maryland Allied Health Simulation Workforce Development Program. Funding comes from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and will benefit hundreds of students in the Western Maryland region. Allegany Co  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, issued the following news release on Nov. 16: U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $100,000 in federal funding to purchase training equipment for the Allegany College of Maryland Allied Health Simulation Workforce Development Program. Funding comes from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and will benefit hundreds of students in the Western Maryland region. Allegany C  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 20 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Michael Coble, Ph.D. to the Texas Forensic Science Commission for a term set to expire on September 1, 2021. The commission provides oversight over Texas crime laboratories and other entities conducting forensic analyses for use in criminal proceedings and provides an accreditation mandate responsible for establishing procedures, policies, and practices to improve the qua  more

STORRS, Connecticut, Nov. 20 (TNSRes) -- The University of Connecticut issued the following news: One Friday evening in the spring of 2019, Abhi Upadhyay, assistant professor of food microbiology and safety in the Department of Animal Science, found himself watching a video showing microbubbles for pet care and grooming. He started thinking about using this technology for food safety and spent the weekend researching its potential, current state of the field and appropriate grant opportunities.  more

ORONO, Maine, Nov. 21 (TNSJou) -- The University of Maine issued the following news release: New findings from the most comprehensive scientific expedition to Mount Everest in history are in today's interdisciplinary scientific journal One Earth. The collection of research papers and commentaries about Mount Everest, known locally as Sagarmatha and Chomolangma, identifies critical information about the Earth's highest-mountain glaciers and the impacts they're experiencing due to climate change  more

WEST LIBERTY, West Virginia, Nov. 17 (TNSMon) -- West Liberty University issued the following news on Nov. 16: Distance learning is at the top of the needs pile in education thanks to the pandemic and the necessity of remote instruction. AEP Foundation stepped forward recently to support this need by funding a Distance Learning Project at West Liberty University. "I am excited to announce that AEP Foundation generously presented the WLU Foundation with a $25,000 check to assist us in our dista  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Nov. 19 -- The Public Service Commission of West Virginia issued the following commission order (Case No. 20-0429-E-C): AMY S. HADEN, Charleston, Kanawha County, Complainant, V. APPALACHIAN POWER COMPANY a public utility, Defendant. COMMISSION ORDER The Commission dismisses this case as resolved. BACKGROUND On June 12, 2020, Amy S. Haden (Complainant) filed a complaint alleging that Appalachian Power Company (APCo) failed to properly maintain its lines, causing nu  more