HOUSTON, Texas, Dec. 10 -- The International Facility Management Association issued the following news: IFMA is pleased to announce the 2020 Class of IFMA Fellows. Bestowed with the association's highest honor, this year's inductees include Diane Coles Levine, Geoff Williams, Kenneth Foo Yew Hoong and Valerian Moraes. In addition, IFMA is proud to announce its own professional staff as the recipients of the 2020 Board Chair Citation. The induction of the new Class of IFMA Fellows and the award  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 9 -- Alcoholism - Clinical and Experimental Research, a journal from the Research Society on Alcoholism and the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism, says that it provides animal and human clinical, epidemiological, experimental, policy and historical research relating to alcohol abuse, dependence or alcoholism, published research articles, including the following topics, in its December 2020 edition: Reviews: * Systematic Review of Clinician-Reporte  more

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, Dec. 10 -- The Alliance Defending Freedom issued the following statement: * * * The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Elissa Graves regarding a friend-of-the-court brief that ADF filed Wednesday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in support of Texas limits on dismemberment abortions at issue in Whole Woman's Health v. Paxton: "Texas has the right to respect the life of unborn children, and it did so when it chose  more

DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 8 -- The American Heart Association issued the following news release: The nation continues to be faced with daily increases of COVID-related infections and deaths, and we are concerned about its continuing overall effect on the health care system. The tireless cadre of health care professionals, such as physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, first responders, emergency medical technicians and others who put their lives at risk each day to combat the deadly coronavirus   more

IRVING, Texas, Dec. 11 -- The American Association for Respiratory Care issued the following news: On December 8, 2020, Rep. Thomas Patton from Strongsville, Ohio, introduced, HB 803, a bill to license the advance practice respiratory therapist in Ohio. This is the culmination of many months in which the Ohio Society for Respiratory Care (OSRC) completed a series of incremental steps in preparation for the 2021-2022 legislative session of the General Assembly. Although the bill will not move t  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- The American Association for the Advancement of Science issued the following news: They had sleepless weeks, scrambles for lab equipment, and unprecedented pressure to understand the devastating virus that gripped the world in 2020. But this year's Golden Goose Award winners also had something that brought hope to the end of a pandemic year: a head start. National Institutes of Health researchers Kizzmekia Corbett, Barney Graham, Emmie de Wit, and Vincent Munster; Univers  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Dec. 11 -- The American Payroll Association issued the following news: The IRS has released the 2021 Publication 15-T, Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods, and the 2021 Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Certificate. The 2021 Form W-4 has few changes and is very similar to the 2020 Form W-4. 2021 Publication 15-T Publication 15-T describes how to figure federal income tax withholding using the percentage method and the wage bracket method and describes alternative methods  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 10 (TNSAwa) -- Austin Chamber of Commerce issued the following news release on Dec. 9: The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce tonight announced winners of its 20th Annual Greater Austin Business Awards during a virtual ceremony. "It's an honor to celebrate the diverse industry leaders and companies in Austin," said Austin Chamber President and CEO Laura Huffman. "This year was unlike any other, and these businesses prove that innovating through adversity is what makes us a   more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 11 -- Austin Chamber of Commerce issued the following news release on Dec. 10: The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce today announced Susan Dawson, president of E3 Alliance, has been named "Austinite of the Year" for 2020. Dawson is a Texas entrepreneur, business, and civic leader. As a successful business entrepreneur turned social entrepreneur, Dawson has led multiple technology firms and currently leads the nationally-recognized E3 Alliance, a regional collaborative she   more

DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 8 (TNSPer) -- Baylor Scott and White Health issued the following news release: Following a national search, Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation announced today that Ben Renberg has been named as its new president. With 25 years of development experience, Renberg begins his new role Feb. 1, 2021. Renberg comes from Cornell University where he has served as senior associate vice president of alumni affairs and development since 2016. At Cornell, he led day-to-day operation  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Protect Our Care issued the following news: Throughout his career, Attorney General Xavier Becerra (D-CA) has been fighting to ensure Americans have access to affordable, quality health care, including the Affordable Care Act. During his time in Congress, he was pivotal in helping to pass the health care law, and as California's attorney general, he has been one of the ACA's staunchest defenders. He led the fight to protect the law in California v. Texas, the Trump-Republ  more

RICHARDSON, Texas, Dec. 12 -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, a Blue Cross Blue Sheild affiliate, issued the following news release on Dec. 11: With a focus on targeting the socio-economic and social determinants of health impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texasexternal link (BCBSTX) announced today the awarding of $1.8 million in Healthy Kids, Healthy Families(R)external link grants to 28 community-based organizations statewide. The 2021 HKHF gr  more

DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 11 -- Circulation, a journal from the American Heart Association, published research articles on the following topics in its Dec. 8, 2020 edition: Original Research Articles: * Efficacy of Ertugliflozin on Heart Failure-Related Events in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Established Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: Results of the VERTIS CV Trial * Rivaroxaban and Aspirin in Peripheral Artery Disease Lower Extremity Revascularization: Impact of Concomitant   more

IRVING, Texas, Dec. 9 -- The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame issued the following news release: Jack Scarbath, a 1983 College Football Hall of Fame inductee who played at the University of Maryland from 1950-52, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 6. He was 90. "Jack Scarbath was one of the best players in Maryland history," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "A Heisman runner-up and unanimous All-American, he will definitely be remembered as an all-time great. Our thoughts and pr  more

IRVING, Texas, Dec. 11 -- The Electronic Security Association issued the following news: Here are highlights of legislative activity that could impact the electronic security and life safety industry. Federal Legislative Summary - November 2020 Congressional activity in November was relatively light due to the run-up for the election and post-election move to a lame-duck session. Pressure continues to mount for the House and Senate leadership to create and enact a stimulus, considering the sp  more

IRVING, Texas, Dec. 10 -- The Electronic Security Association issued the following news: False alarm fines are historically imposed by local governments to force those who habitually cause them to pay for public safety (police and/or fire) response and incentivize compliance through financial penalties. Fining end users and practicing other measures -- such as enhanced call verification -- is also proven to reduce false dispatches caused by end users. Some local governments either dispute thes  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- The Center for Biological Diversity issued the following news release: In what will likely be the first major pesticide decision under the Biden Environmental Protection Agency, the agency will consider allowing use of the dangerous, previously cancelled pesticide aldicarb on citrus trees in Florida and Texas. If approved the manufacturer's application would allow use of the highly toxic pesticide linked to brain damage in young children and infants on up to 400,000 acre  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Dec. 8 -- The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities issued the following statement: * * * The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) has released the following statement on the selection of The Honorable Eloise Gomez Reyes as the first Latina elected as the Majority Leader in the California State Assembly. "The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) wholeheartedly applauds the selection of Assembly Member Reyes as the next As  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Dec. 8 -- The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities issued the following news release: The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) has released the following statement on the nomination by President-elect Joe Biden of The Honorable Xavier Becerra for Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). As attorney general of California, Xavier Becerra has been at the forefront of legal efforts on health care, leading 20 states a  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Dec. 11 -- The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities issued the following news release: The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has sent a letter directed to the leadership of the U.S. Congress urging them to support equitable funding in emergency relief funds for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) under the COVID relief package being debated in response to the ongoing pandemic. Historically, HSIs have been severely underfunded, including the all  more

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, Dec. 8 (TNSPer) -- Harte Research Institute issued the following news release: Dr. Richard McLaughlin, Chair for Marine Policy and Law, was the first chair hired to join the staff at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies (HRI) in 2005, and "Ed's favorite chair," said HRI Associate Director Gail Sutton, referring to the institute's namesake and founder, Corpus Christi newspaper magnate Ed Harte. While it was a relatively new concept at the time, Harte was  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Dec. 12 -- The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities issued the following news release: The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities National Internship Program bid farewell to its 2020 fall interns with a virtual ceremony on Dec. 10, 2020, for undergraduate and graduate students serving virtual internships. All fall HNIP internships were held remotely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A welcome was given by HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores,  more

STANFORD, California, Dec. 11 -- The Hoover Institution issued the following news release: Hoover acquired the Dell and Garin Hood papers in November 2020. Mr. Dell graduated from the University of Texas in 1962 with a degree in Russian language and literature. He was accepted into the Peace Corps for the first group of volunteers to Ethiopia, and he taught English in 7th and 8th grades at Medhane Alem School in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. In 1964, Mr. Hood returned to Austin and married his wife, G  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Dec. 10 -- The Houston Association of Realtors issued the following news release: Homes across the greater Houston area continued selling at a record pace despite historically low inventory, the start of the holiday season and the lingering coronavirus pandemic. A low supply of homes for sale and strong demand from homebuyers combined to push the average price to record territory. Once again, the high end of the market generated the strongest increase in consumer activity with m  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Dec. 10 -- The Houston Symphony issued the following news: In January, the Houston Symphony opens the second half of its 2020-21 Season with two Classical Series programs that celebrate Beethoven's 250th birthday. World-renowned violinist Midori joins the Symphony for Beethoven's only Violin Concerto, Jan. 15-17. Then, the Symphony performs Beethoven's Symphony No. 8, as well as Haydn's Cello Concerto No. 2 in D major featuring Principal Cello Brinton Averil Smith, Jan. 29-31 at  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Dec. 10 -- The Houston Symphony issued the following news: Under the direction of Houston Symphony Principal POPS Conductor Steven Reineke, the Symphony toasts the New Year and the second half of its 2020-21 Season with the electrifying program, In the Mood: A Big Band New Year, part of the Bank of America POPS Series, Jan. 8-10. This performance is livestreamed on Saturday, Jan. 8, at 8 p.m. CST. Tickets are now available for these performances at houstonsymphony.org/2021season  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- The Immigration Reform Law Institute issued the following news release: On Friday, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Trump administration in its appeal of an injunction that an activist Texas district judge had placed on Trump's emergency transfer of funds to build a border wall. In March, the Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI), on behalf of Congressman Andy Barr of Kentucky, had filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the Fifth Circuit arguing tha  more

BROWNSVILLE, Texas, Dec. 9 -- The Institute for Justice issued the following news release: In a sweeping victory for economic liberty, Judge Arturo Cisneros Nelson of the Cameron County District Court struck down South Padre Island's anti-competitive food truck permit cap and restaurant-permission scheme. The district court ruled that the city violated the Texas Constitution when it forced food truck owners to get permission from local restaurant owners before being eligible for a food truck pe  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Dec. 9 (TNSRep) -- The International Facility Management Association issued the following news: IFMA has released its annual report for fiscal year 2020 (July 1, 2019-June 30, 2020). The digital report is available for download at ifma.org/about/about-ifma/year-in-review-annual-reports. Following one of the most profitable years in IFMA's history, the association entered 2020 with an eye toward building on the momentum of its achievements. As risks presented by the COVID-19 pan  more

IRVING, Texas, Dec. 8 -- The American Association for Respiratory Care issued the following joint statement with American Heart Association: * * * The nation continues to be faced with daily increases of COVID-related infections and deaths, and we are concerned about its continuing overall effect on the health care system. The tireless cadre of health care professionals, such as physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, first responders, emergency medical technicians and others who put their  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 10 (TNSPer) -- The American Association of Nurse Practitioners issued the following news: The board of directors (BOD) of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners(R) (AANP) is pleased to announce that Jon Fanning, MS, CAE, CNED, will become the Association's chief executive officer (CEO), effective March 1, 2021. Fanning has more than 20 years of experience working with organizations on strategic planning, driving membership growth, developing advocacy initiatives an  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law issued the following statement: * * * The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a lost cause lawsuit brought by Texas's Attorney General Paxton which sought to invalidate millions of votes cast by voters in four states. The following is a statement from Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law: "This concept of one state trying to challenge the election systems o  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, Dec. 8 -- Project Lead The Way issued the following joint news release with Lockheed Martin on Dec. 7: Lockheed Martin and Project Lead The Way (PLTW) today announced $250,000 in grant support for the implementation of PLTW's Cybersecurity course, which engages students in grades 9-12 in real-world activities aligned with careers in the growing field of cybersecurity. Schools near Lockheed Martin facilities in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida,  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- The League of United Latin American Citizens issued the following news release: The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Wednesday denounced a request by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton asking the U.S. Supreme Court for permission to sue several battleground states Democrat Joe Biden won which added decisively to his victory margin. "This is beyond laughable, it is so ridiculous," said Domingo Garcia, LULAC National President. "What makes this so hypocritic  more

ROCKPORT, Texas, Dec. 11 -- The Maine Behavioral Healthcare issued the following news: Reflecting its commitment to quality and accurate testing, the Vascular Lab at Pen Bay Medical Center (PBMC) has earned an additional three years of accreditation in the areas of extracranial cerebrovascular, peripheral venous and peripheral arterial testing. The Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC), a non-profit organization that evaluates and accredits facilities that provide diagnostic imaging and  more

ROCKPORT, Texas, Dec. 11 -- The Maine Behavioral Healthcare issued the following news: Pen Bay Medical Center (PBMC) is pleased to welcome Karl Santiago, MD, as it continues to expand its pediatric practice to meet the growing demand for pediatric care in the Midcoast region. Dr. Santiago recently completed his residency at Maine Medical Center in Portland. He earned his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston. In addition to having worked as a medical educator with a  more

IRVING, Texas, Dec. 10 -- The American Association for Respiratory Care issued the following news: The AARC, ARCF, and NBRC recognized their best and brightest during this years virtual awards ceremony. The ceremony premiered on Facebook and YouTube on Dec. 3. Several AARC members were recognized for their achievements. You can rewatch the ceremony on the AARC Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/aarc.org/posts/10158926112124583) and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM-VWYIApJg&feature=  more

BELLEVUE, Washington, Dec. 11 -- MomsRising, an online and on-the-ground organization of more than 1 million mothers and their families, issued the following news release: Statement of leaders of MomsRising, an on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on this morning's oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in California v. Texas: "Moms and families have a tremendous amount at stake in California v. Texas, the case the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- The National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors issued the following news release on Dec. 7: Texas has a "continuing need" for the state credit union department and it should be sustained for another 12 years, according to a decision reached Monday in a report by the commission that advises the Lone Star State legislature on whether state agencies should are effective and should remain in operation. NASCUS President and CEO Lucy Ito praised the decision, not on  more

IRVING, Texas, Dec. 9 -- The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame issued the following news release: Tennessee offensive lineman Brandon Kennedy, a finalist for the 2020 William V. Campbell Trophy(R) Presented by Mazda, participated on a panel called "The Student-Athlete POV" during the virtual Annual Learfield IMG College Intercollegiate Athletics Forum today. The panel was moderated by ESPN analyst and former Duke basketball player Jay Williams, and also featured former Corn  more

IRVING, Texas, Dec. 10 (TNSRep) -- The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame issued the following news release: The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame reached out to Chuck Neinas for his thoughts on last week's Knight Commission Report, which recommended that the football teams in Football Bowl Subdivision govern themselves as a separate entity from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Neinas, an emeritus member of the NFF Board, served as  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 -- The National Guard Association of the U.S. issued the following news release: The Air Force has identified four Air National Guard units to receive new C-130J Super Hercules cargo aircraft. Units in Kentucky, West Virginia, Texas and Georgia were chosen as the preferred locations for future aircraft, replacing fleets of aging C-130Hs. The basing decision, which was originally delayed until after the 2020 presidential election, has been criticized by some Democratic lawma  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- The National Space Society issued the following news release: On December 9, at 5:45 p.m. EST, SpaceX's Starship was successfully flown to an altitude of almost eight miles (12.5 km) from the company's test facility at Boca Chica, Texas. Starship SN8 flew successfully for 6 minutes and 42 seconds, achieving the majority of its test goals until it exploded upon landing. "Fuel header tank pressure was low during landing burn, causing touchdown velocity to be high & RUD, bu  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 10 (TNSAwa) -- The American Hospital Association issued the following news release: The American Hospital Association (AHA) today announced that Nicholas Tejeda, Group CEO of The Hospitals of Providence in El Paso, Texas, and 2021 AHA Board of Trustees member, will be awarded its 2020 Board of Trustees Award. The Award is presented to individuals or groups who have made substantial and noteworthy contributions to the work of the AHA. Tejeda has served within The Hospita  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 8 (TNSRep) -- The OneStar Foundation issued the following news release: A statewide survey on the effects of COVID-19 reveals that Texas nonprofits--a sector tied to 1 in 8 jobs in the state-- are facing many challenges due to the pandemic, with some Texas nonprofits being hit disproportionately hard. Key survey findings include: * More than half (58%) of organizations have suffered severe reductions or a complete loss of volunteer support--a critical workforce for nonprof  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- Protect Our Care issued the following news: This morning, President-elect Joe Biden announced his intention to nominate Attorney General Xavier Becerra (D-CA) as his Secretary of Health and Human Services. Health care experts from around the country praised the president-elect's decision, highlighting Attorney General Becerra's expensive health care policy record and defense of the Affordable Care Act in California v. Texas, the Trump-Republican lawsuit that would rip cove  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 11 (TNSRep) -- Public Citizen issued the following news release on Dec. 10: In response to a Public Citizen lawsuit, a state district judge in Austin has ordered the Texas Railroad Commission to halt orders granting exceptions to environmental rules. The exceptions bailed out the beleaguered oil and gas industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rules are designed to prevent environmental damage by requiring oil companies to cap unplugged wells and clean up waste pits. If   more

HOUSTON, Texas, Dec. 10 (TNSAwa) -- The International Facility Management Association issued the following news: IFMA is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2020 Awards of Excellence. Winning submissions in 14 categories include individual IFMA members, authors, educators, IFMA chapters, corporate partners and facility management teams. Award recipients were notified of their winning submissions in September and were asked to record video acceptance speeches. IFMA's annual awards are tra  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Dec. 11 (TNSRes) -- Texas Biomedical Research Institute issued the following news release: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded Professor Mahesh Mohan, D.V.M., Ph.D., and collaborators more than $3.5 million over five years to investigate the effects of cannabinoids on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). This research project aims to evaluate whether delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) alone or in comb  more

MIAMI, Florida, Dec. 12 -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida issued the following news release on Dec. 11: Yesterday, Florida and sixteen other states joined Texas in its legal effort to delay presidential electors in Michigan, Georgia, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania from casting their electoral votes for President-elect Joe Biden. The lawsuit filed with the Supreme Court contends that these four states' broke federal law by implementing pandemic-related changes to their election proced  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Dec. 9 -- The Intercultural Development Research Association issued the following news release: Texas A&M University-Commerce and IDRA are partnering to create a trailblazing collaboration to increase access to higher education and provide students with insight into influencing educational policy and legislation. As part of the agreement, IDRA will provide the curriculum for an online elective course on social justice through policy. The doctorate-level course will be offer  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- The Texas Association of Broadcasters issued the following news: TAB is offering a new training program in 2021 - P1 Plus. Our team of trained professionals will assist your AEs (with less than two years' experience) gain real-world training and mentorship to start off 2021 the right way! The trainers have worked with 600+ sales associates from small to large market media so they know what it takes to take your team from rookie to ready in less than seven weeks. The fi  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- The Texas Association of Broadcasters issued the following news: When Texas lawmakers return to the Capitol in January, they will begin the 87th Texas Legislature under extraordinary circumstances. COVID-19 related restrictions will make it difficult for legislative operations, tough for the public and issue advocates to participate, and onerous for broadcasters and other members of the media covering the session. Working groups in the Texas House and Senate have been bus  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- The Texas Association of Broadcasters issued the following news: A team of Texas health officials has started weighing how to prioritize recipients for the COVID-19 vaccines that have begun arriving in the state. Once the FDA grants them emergency use authorization, inoculations will begin before the end of the year and likely continue through early spring. Where broadcasters will fall in the order is unclear, but TAB has weighed in on behalf of our industry's front-line w  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 8 -- The Texas Association of Counties issued the following commentary by Executive Director Susan M. Redford: * * * A year ago when I marked the end of my first year as TAC's executive director, no one could have seen what was to come in a few short months -- how COVID-19 would alter our lives, routines and way of working so profoundly. But if a year ago I was thankful for the privilege of working with "a staff of dedicated TAC employees who bring their 'A' games to work e  more

WACO, Texas, Dec. 7 -- Texas Farm Bureau issued the following news release: The president of the state's largest farm and ranch organization says the challenges of 2020 allowed Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) to find new approaches to accomplish its goals in representing Texas farmers and ranchers. Russell Boening of Poth--who runs a 450-cow dairy and a beef cattle operation, as well as grows wheat, cotton, feed grains and watermelons--told TFB leaders meeting in Waco at the organization's 87th annual  more

WACO, Texas, Dec. 7 -- Texas Farm Bureau issued the following news release: In a year of uncertainty, Texas farmers and ranchers established policy to help guide the agricultural advocacy efforts of Texas Farm Bureau (TFB), the state's largest general farm and ranch organization. "This year has been challenging, but farmers and ranchers have continued to do what we do best--farm and ranch--even in the face of uncertainty," Russell Boening, TFB president, said. "Our annual meeting is a time whe  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 9 (TNSRes) -- The Texas Public Interest Research Group issued the following news release: Texas has been singled out as the state with the highest number of egregious highway boondoggle projects in a new report by TexPIRG Education Fund and Frontier Group. Despite boasting one of the most extensive highway systems of any state in the country and huge budget shortfalls caused by COVID-19, Texas is planning to spend nearly $3 billion to expand Loop 1604 in San Antonio and buil  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 11 -- Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release on Dec. 10: Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation released five papers that together form a responsible strategy for the state's immediate and long-term economic growth. "These five approaches make for good economic policy anytime," said TPPF Chief Economist Vance Ginn, Ph.D. "But they are especially important as the state recovers from government-imposed shutdowns. Together, these strategies will he  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 9 -- Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release: Yesterday, the State of Texas filed a lawsuit with the United States Supreme Court against the states of Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. The case seeks an answer to whether the defendant states violated the Electors Clause of the U.S. Constitution by taking non-legislative actions to change the election rules that govern the appointment of presidential electors. "TPPF supports the Texas la  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 8 -- Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release on Dec. 7: Today, Texas Rep. Mayes Middleton filed House Bill 749 which proposes to ban taxpayer-funded lobbying. The bill would prohibit political subdivisions from using public money to hire registered lobbyists or to pay certain third-party organizations that hire or contract with registered lobbyists. "Governments are forcing taxpayers to pay for lobbyists whose job it is to advocate for more governme  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 7 -- The Texas Association of Realtors issued the following news release: Texas REALTORS(R) has officially installed its officers and executive board for the coming year. Incoming officers include Chairman Marvin Jolly of Plano, Chairman-Elect Russell Berry of Dallas, Secretary/Treasurer Marcus Phipps of Harlingen and Immediate Past Chairman Cindi Bulla of Amarillo. "This unprecedented year has presented new challenges, but it has shown that REALTORS(R) are more united than  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 11 -- The Texas State Teachers Association issued the following statement by President Ovidia Molina: * * * The Texas Education Agency has suspended the A-F school accountability rating system for this school year, but TEA didn't go far enough. The Texas State Teachers Association once again calls on the agency and Gov. Abbott to also cancel STAAR testing for any purpose. They already have decided STAAR scores won't count toward student promotions this year but still insi  more

ARLINGTON, Virginia, Dec. 9 (TNSRes) -- USA Rice Federation issued the following news: Earlier this summer the annual USA Rice Outlook Conference was cancelled. The gathering of around 1,000 rice industry leaders was scheduled for this week in Austin, Texas, and would have featured, among other things, rice research and outlook reports from the six rice producing states. But even with no major event, the important and popular reports needed to go forward. "We worked with the presenters at the   more

IRVING, Texas, Dec. 11 (TNSAwa) -- The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame issued the following news release: The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today that University of Wyoming broadcaster Dave Walsh will be the recipient of the 2020 NFF Chris Schenkel Award. "I'm overwhelmed, and what an honor," said Walsh. "I was a big fan of Chris Schenkel in my younger years, and I was actually hired here at Wyoming by a fella by the name of Curt Gowd  more