NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- LatinoJustice PRLDEF issued the following news on Dec. 21: The Voting Rights Working Group, a loose consortium of 12 of the nation's most prominent and experienced non-profit organizations pursuing voting rights litigation on behalf of racial minorities, today just published its Election Protection Litigation Summary. On the occasion, the group released the following joint statement. "Latino, African American, Asian American, and Native American voters played a decisive ro  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- The 350.org issued the following news release: Congress reached agreement on a US$900 billion stimulus package, half the amount of March's US$2.2 trillion relief package, amidst a worsening pandemic, an eviction crisis, rising unemployment, and with a vaccine on its way. The package is set to provide US$600 stimulus payments to adults and children and revive supplemental federal unemployment benefits at US$300 per week. It will extend federal unemployment programs, provide   more

BUFFALO, New York, Dec. 22 (TNSRes) -- The Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center issued the following news release on Dec. 21: The past year has been a challenging one for so many of us. While the new coronavirus absorbed our attention, cancer has continued to take the lives of many around us. Early evidence suggests that the rates of death from cancer are likely to reverse their recent trend and start rising again as an indirect effect of COVID-19. At this pivotal moment, researchers from t  more

BRIARCLIFF MANOR, New York, Dec. 24 -- The Academy of Management Learning and Education, a journal from the Academy of Management that says it features articles on management education in colleges and universities, published research articles on the following topics in its December 2020 edition: Research & Reviews: * Ladders for Learning: Is Scaffolding the Key to Teaching Problem-Solving in Technology-Mediated Learning Contexts? * Modeling Collaborative Intentions and Behavior in Digital Env  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- Access Now issued the following news release on Dec. 23: December 23, Access Now, along with Amnesty International, Committee to Protect Journalists, Internet Freedom Foundation, Paradigm Initiative, Privacy International, Reporters Without Borders, and Red en Defensa de los Derechos Digitales (R3D) are calling upon the U.S. Federal 9th Circuit Court to hold notorious cybersurveillance company, NSO Group, whose Pegasus spyware has been used to target civil society around th  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- Access Now issued the following news release on Dec. 21: Last night, the U.S. Congress came to agreement on a $900 billion stimulus package that includes funding for a $50 per month emergency broadband benefit for low-income people and for those struggling to stay connected during the pandemic, and a $75 per month benefit for Indigenous populations. "At long last, the U.S. Congress will move forward with sorely-needed broadband support in its most recent COVID stimulus dea  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 19 (TNSRep) -- The American Civil Liberties Union, a 501(c)3 non-profit that works to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the U.S., issued the following news release: The Supreme Court has ruled it is too soon to bring a legal challenge against the Trump administration's still-developing plan to exclude undocumented immigrants from the census count used to allocate seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. The case   more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- The American Civil Liberties Union, a 501(c)3 non-profit that works to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the U.S., issued the following statement: * * * In regards to President-elect Biden's commitment to restoring asylum at the southern U.S. border, the ACLU Director of Immigrants' Rights Project Omar Jadwat, said: "Every day the Trump administration's anti-asylum policies remain in place, our country puts   more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- The American Civil Liberties Union, a 501(c)3 non-profit that works to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the U.S., issued the following news release on Dec. 22: In response to litigation from the ACLU and the Center for Reproductive Rights, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas issued an order blocking four anti-abortion laws in Arkansas hours after they took effect. While the laws were   more

LAKE PLACID, New York, Dec. 23 (TNSGra) -- The Adirondack Foundation issued the following news release: Adirondack Foundation and its many funding partners since March has awarded nearly $1.2 million through 175 grants to nonprofits, schools, and community-based organizations specifically toward COVID-19 response. This rapid-response community assistance is thanks to a coalition of corporate, philanthropic, and nonprofit partners supporting local frontline organizations - many of which serve pe  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 26 -- The Aesthetic Surgery Journal, a peer-reviewed international journal from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery that says it focuses on scientific developments and clinical techniques in aesthetic surgery, published research articles, including the following topics, in its January 2021 edition: Facial Surgery: * Fat Grafting to Improve Results of Facelift: Systematic Review of Safety and Effectiveness of Current Treatment Paradigms Breast Surgery: * Lower Po  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued the following news release on Dec. 22: The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) today issued a new white paper to help auditors providing SOC for Service Organization (SOC) reports on organizations that have incorporated blockchain into their service delivery systems. Implications of the Use of Blockchain in SOC for Service Organization Examinations was developed by a Working Group of the AICPA Assurance Services   more

ALBANY, New York, Dec. 23 -- Albany Medical College issued the following news: For many years, one of the most cherished traditions at Albany Medical Center has been our recognition of the Employee of the Year. In the extraordinary year of 2020, every employee went above and beyond to care for our region through the pandemic. "Our actions have guided, informed, and healed our community in truly extraordinary ways. Identifying one among us as the Employee of the Year was no easy task," said Pre  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- The American Association of Advertising Agencies issued the following news release: This $325 billion title would provide additional assistance to the hardest-hit small businesses, nonprofits, and venues that are struggling to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The title would provide funding for a second round of forgivable loans through the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses and nonprofits experiencing significant revenue losses, make programm  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- The American Geriatrics Society issued the following news release on Dec. 21: The American Geriatrics Society today commends the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its speedy, but thorough and transparent emergency use authorization of two COVID-19 vaccines and expresses its support for the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP) recommendations on groups that should be prioritized for vaccination in the initial phases of the U.S. COVID-19 vaccination pr  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- The American Guild of Musical Artists issued the following statement: * * * The German Artists' initiative Aufstehen fur die Kunst ("Standing up for Arts") proposal states: "Our main concern is that artistic freedom, in accordance with its constitutional status, has to be taken into account and that it is similarly treated with other equally protected areas, especially religious services. Of course, the Artists support a hard lockdown for everyone. "A hard lockdown only  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- The American Jewish Congress issued the following statement: * * * The American Jewish Congress applauds President-elect Joe Biden for his nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Secretary-designate Mayorkas's experience as a Cuban-American refugee of Sephardic Jewish descent provides him with first-hand knowledge of America's immigration issues. And his understanding of the critical role that the department plays in protecting Ameri  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- The American National Standards Institute issued the following news release on Dec. 21: The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) - the U.S. member body to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) via its U.S. National Committee (USNC) - announced today the availability of a new IEC value-added product. The redlined Commented Version (CMV)of Explosive Atmospheres - Part 10-1: Classification Of Areas - Explosive Gas Atmospheres, IEC 60079-10-1 Ed. 3.0 en: 2  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- The American National Standards Institute issued the following news release on Dec. 21: The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) announced today its participation in a December 10 America Makes mini technical review and exchange (TRX) on additive manufacturing. The event featured an overview of the America Makes and ANSI Additive Manufacturing Standardization Collaborative (AMSC) and a moderated discussion of trends and activity responsive to the recommendations con  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 (TNSRep) -- The American National Standards Institute issued the following news release: A new study conducted by researchers at Yale University found that electronic waste is on the decline. The total mass of electronic waste generated by Americans has been decreasing since 2015 - a surprising finding, given the prominence of digital devices in our lives. Several factors contribute to this decline: Slim flat-screen models have replaced large cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 (TNSPer) -- The American National Standards Institute issued the following news release: People on the Move highlights the career advancements of high-level trailblazers working professionally in diverse areas of standardization, contributing every day to the strength and success of the U.S. standards and conformance community. The IAPMO Group an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) member and audited designator, has announced that Woods McRoy has joined the Uniform E  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- The American National Standards Institute issued the following news release: The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) encourages relevant stakeholder to register for two workshops to develop an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) International Workshop Agreement (IWA) on guidelines for cloud kitchen service, which is increasing in popularity as more restaurant customers dine at home amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The virtual workshop meeting dates are   more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 (TNSRep) -- The American National Standards Institute issued the following news release on Dec. 21: The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) encourages relevant stakeholders to register for two workshops to develop an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) International Workshop Agreement (IWA) on guidelines for contactless delivery service, which has seen an uptick among consumers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The virtual workshop meeting dates are on Marc  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- The American National Standards Institute issued the following news release: As part of a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) initiative to establish a library of resources for accessibility in automation, to work with outside experts to study voluntary best practices for ensuring accessibility in automated vehicles, the DOT has issued a request for information (RFI) to support the development of an Inclusive Design Reference Hub. The American National Standards Institu  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers issued the following news release on Dec. 21: ASCAP and BMI, the nation's two leading performing rights organizations, today announced the launch of SONGVIEW, a comprehensive data platform that provides music users with an authoritative view of copyright ownership and administration shares in the vast majority of music licensed in the United States. SONGVIEW technology allows ASCAP and BMI to seamlessly display an ag  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- The Anti-Defamation League issued the following news release on Dec. 21: ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) welcomed today's verdict of a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for the white supremacist terrorist who attacked the synagogue in Halle, Germany on Yom Kippur last year, murdering two people outside the synagogue. "Today's verdict of a maximum sentence of life imprisonment will keep the Jewish community safe from this particular white supremacist terrorist and will  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 (TNSRep) -- The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants issued the following news release on Dec. 22: The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) today issued a new white paper to help auditors providing SOC for Service Organization (SOC) reports on organizations that have incorporated blockchain into their service delivery systems. Implications of the Use of Blockchain in SOC for Service Organization Examinations (https://www.aicpa.org/content/dam/aicpa/in  more

NEW ROCHELLE, New York, Dec. 22 -- Bioelectricity, a peer-reviewed journal, published research articles on the following topics in its December 2020 edition: Perspective: * Next-Generation Bioelectric Medicine: Harnessing the Therapeutic Potential of Neural Implants Reviews: * Toward Closed-Loop Electrical Stimulation of Neuronal Systems: A Review * Novel Electrode Designs for Neurostimulation in Regenerative Medicine: Activation of Stem Cells Original Research: * Thermochromic Tissue   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 -- The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence issued the following news release: Brady and Giffords Law Center join in supporting the cities of Syracuse, New York, San Jose, California, Chicago, Illinois, and Columbia, South Carolina and Everytown for Gun Safety in their lawsuit seeking to compel the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to regulate the parts used to make 'ghost guns' as firearms under the federal Gun Control Act (18 U.S.C. Sec. 921   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 25 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued the following news release on Dec. 24: The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned anti-Asian coronavirus-related hate crime that occurred last Thursday, Dec. 17, at a subway station in Manhattan. According to the NYPD, a group of six individuals beat and hurled anti-Asian slurs at a woman in a downtown Man  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued the following news release on Dec. 23: The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed Governor Andrew Cuomo's signing of Landmark Automatic Voter Registration law making New York the 19th state to adopt automatic voter registration (AVR). The bill was signed into law yesterday and will go into effect January 2023  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news release: On December 10, Human Rights Day, Egypt's Foreign Ministry called for international cooperation and an exchange of expertise without "dictation or claim of perfection that hasn't and will never be attained by any party." The same day, Rome's chief prosecutor announced she was charging four ranking Egyptian National Security Agency officers with responsibility for the abduction, torture, and murder of an Italian graduate   more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights issued the following statement on Dec. 22: * * * Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on why minority students are still struggling: It is one of history's greatest ironies: No segment of society punishes the poor more than those who champion their cause. This is true historically in nations claimed by Marxism, and in democratic nations today claimed by liberalism. Rhetoric aside, the left always screws the poo  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights issued the following statement: * * * Catholic League president Bill Donohue is asking everyone to push one more time for the release of a Thai man who is still in the custody of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Earlier this month, I asked everyone to appeal to the White House requesting that Pornchai Moontri be released from ICE. For those of you who are unfamiliar with his case, read the story below. We n  more

NEW ROCHELLE, New York, Dec. 26 -- Cellular Reprogramming, a journal that says it covers molecular basis of the virus to clinical studies on vaccines and potential cures, published research articles on the following topics in its December 2020 edition: Research Articles: * Effect of Rhodiola sachalinensis Aqueous Extract on In Vitro Maturation of Porcine Oocytes and Subsequent In Vitro Embryonic Development * Low-Concentration Essential Amino Acids in PZM-3 Improve the Developmental Competenc  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- The Center for Constitutional Rights issued the following statement: * * * In response to Uganda's detention of four human rights defenders, including attorney Nicholas Opiyo, the Center for Constitutional Rights issued the following statement: Our colleague and partner Nicholas Opiyo has taken on some of the most political and principled cases in Uganda, tirelessly fighting for the rights and dignity of targeted activists. Given his work on some of Uganda's most politica  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 (TNSRep) -- The Center for Reproductive Rights issued the following news release on Dec. 22: In response to litigation from the ACLU and the Center for Reproductive Rights, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas issued an order blocking four anti-abortion laws in Arkansas hours after they took effect. While the laws were in effect today, clinics were forced to cancel appointments and were only able to offer medication abortion. Last week, the Eighth Circ  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 (TNSRep) -- The Center for Reproductive Rights issued the following news release on Dec. 21: The ACLU and the Center for Reproductive Rights filed for emergency relief to block four anti-abortion laws from taking effect as early as tomorrow in Arkansas. The action comes after the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals denied a request for en banc rehearing last week of an Aug. 2020 decision that paved the way for Arkansas abortion restrictions to go into effect. In their filing toda  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- The New York City Bar Association issued the following news release: The New York City Bar Association has sent a letter to Senator Chris Coons raising concerns that a "$300 million World Bank loan to the Ugandan government, ostensibly intended to fund COVID-19 relief measures may be financing ongoing human rights abuses committed by the security forces against political opposition candidates and their supporters ahead of the January 2021 presidential and parliamentary elec  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Dec. 22 -- The National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders news release on Dec. 21: Several civil rights and consumer groups filed an amicus brief last week in the support of the attorneys general of California, Illinois, and New York in their case against a rule from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) that encourages predatory lending through "rent-a-bank" schemes. The OCC rule facilitates non-bank lenders' efforts to form superficial partners  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 -- The Center for Responsible Lending issued the following news release: Several civil rights and consumer groups filed an amicus brief in support of the attorneys general of California, Illinois, and New York in their case against a rule from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) that encourages predatory lending through "rent-a-bank" schemes. The OCC's non-bank interest rate rule facilitates non-bank lenders' efforts to form superficial partnerships with ban  more

COLD SPRING HARBOR, New York, Dec. 23 (TNSJou) -- The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory issued the following news: Transforming a fertilized egg into a fully functional adult is a complicated task. Cells must divide, move, and mature at specific times. Developmental genes control that process, turning on and off in a choreographed way. However, the environment influences development. A team of researchers led by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Associate Professor Christopher Hammell reported December  more

COLD SPRING HARBOR, New York, Dec. 22 -- The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory issued the following news: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) scientists have discovered a gene-regulating snippet of RNA that may contribute to the spread of many breast cancers. In animal experiments, the researchers could reduce the growth of metastatic tumors with a molecule designed to target that RNA and trigger its destruction. The same strategy, they say, could be used to develop a new breast cancer treatment f  more

COLD SPRING HARBOR, New York, Dec. 21 -- Cold Spring Harbor Molecular Case Studies, a peer-reviewed journal in the field of precision medicine, including genomic and molecular analyses of individuals or cohorts alongside phenotypic information, published research articles on the following topics in its December 2020 edition: Research Articles: * Recurrent SPECC1L-NTRK fusions in pediatric sarcoma and brain tumors * Esophageal cancer as initial presentation of Fanconi anemia in patients with   more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- Columbia University Irving Medical Center issued the following news: Front-line physicians, nurses, and staff at Columbia University Irving Medical Center last week began receiving the initial dose of the COVID vaccine from Pfizer, which received emergency FDA approval on Dec. 11. Through December 20th, 5,378 NewYork-Presbyterian, Weill Cornell, and Columbia staff have been vaccinated with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. The administration of the Moderna vaccine, approved on D  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- Columbia University Irving Medical Center issued the following news: Before the coronavirus pandemic, few New Yorkers could have imagined getting medical care via their computer, tablet, or smartphone. Until 2019, ColumbiaDoctors had merely dipped a toe into the field of telehealth. And then, in March 2020, "the world changed," says Rosalie Long, RN, MBA, chief operating officer of ColumbiaDoctors. Between July 2019 and January 2020, ColumbiaDoctors conducted an average of  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- The Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following news: Chadian authorities should refrain from conducting police raids on news outlets and should thoroughly investigate allegations that journalist Blaise Noubarassem was assaulted by police and intimidated by a government official, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 27, in Chad's capital, N'Djamena, police raided the office of privately owned broadcaster Radio FM Liberte while the outlet w  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- The Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following news on Dec. 22: Comorian authorities should drop all legal proceedings against journalist Oubeidillah Mchangama and allow him to report freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On December 14, Comorian authorities arrested Oubeidillah, a reporter with Facebook-based news outlet FCBK FM, and held him at a remand center in Moroni, the capital, until December 17, according to FCBK FM, news reports, a F  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- The Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following news on Dec. 21: Afghan authorities must thoroughly investigate the killing of journalist Rahmatullah Nikzad and do everything in their power to ensure that members of the press can work safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. This evening, in the central Afghan city of Ghazni, unidentified gunmen shot Nikzad, a freelance photojournalist who contributed to The Associated Press and Al-Jazeera, three   more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- The Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following news on Dec. 21: Uzbek authorities should halt attempts to criminalize sharing allegedly false information and ensure that journalists can operate freely without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On December 15, deputies of the lower chamber of Uzbekistan's parliament, the Oliy Majlis, approved amendments to the country's criminal and administrative codes that establish fines and pri  more

ALBANY, New York, Dec. 23 -- Albany Medical College issued the following news: As always, Albany Medical College researchers have taken part in helping to solve the most cutting-edge medical issues of our time. Ongoing COVID-19 research at Albany Med encompasses both basic research and clinic-based studies involving COVID-19 in the lab and COVID-19 patients. In 2020, investigators from the Departments of Medicine, Immunology and Microbial Disease and Molecular and Cellular Physiology submitted   more

NEW ROCHELLE, New York, Dec. 22 -- CRISPR, a peer-reviewed journal that says it centralizes essential information and analysis on this revolutionary technology in a single location with the aim of solidifying and growing the community of innovative researchers, practitioners, policymakers and activists who make up the field of gene editing, published research articles on the following topics in its December 2020 edition: Perspective: * Heritable Human Genome Editing: The Public Engagement Imp  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- The Rockefeller Foundation issued the following news release on Dec. 21: The Rockefeller Foundation and U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) today announced they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work to end energy poverty by promoting investment in Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) around the world. The memorandum will focus on delivering reliable, sustainable electricity to the 800 million people worldwide who currently lack electrici  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- The Drug Policy Alliance issued the following statement on Dec. 21: * * * Today, in response to Congress including language in the year-end omnibus and Coronavirus relief package that would reinstate Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated people and eliminate the Aid Elimination Penalty, which denied federal student aid to people convicted of a drug law violation while receiving such aid in the past--Grant Smith, Deputy Director of the Office of National Affairs at the Dr  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- Educators for Excellence issued the following news release on Dec. 22: Educators for Excellence, a teacher-led organization that seeks to elevate the voices of teachers in education policy, today congratulated Miguel A. Cardona on his likely nomination as the United States secretary of education. "Dr. Cardona faces a tremendous challenge in planning a return to in-person classes and helping students recover from learning loss, but having seen his efforts as commissioner o  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- Educators for Excellence issued the following news release on Dec. 22: Educators for Excellence, a teacher-led organization, today reacted to the passage of the COVID-relief stimulus. Since passage of the CARES Act nine months ago, Educators for Excellence has called on Congress to pass an aid package designed to meet the immediate needs of schools, which experts estimate at between $175 and $245 billion dollars. The current aid package negotiated by Congress includes $54.  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- The Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following news on Dec. 21: Egyptian authorities should immediately and unconditionally release blogger Shadi Abu Zeid, and cease jailing members of the press for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 21, a Cairo appeals court sentenced video blogger Abu Zeid to six months in prison after convicting him of insulting a government official in a Facebook post, according to news reports and his l  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Dec. 22 -- Environment America issued the following news release: Governors from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut along with the mayor of Washington, D.C., signed onto the landmark Transportation and Climate Initiative Program (TCI-P) Monday. The regional program, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, will invest in clean transportation projects, including zero emission electric vehicles, expanded public tran  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- The Environmental Defense Fund issued the following news release on Dec. 21: Tonight, Congress will consider a bipartisan year-end omnibus spending package that will make major investments in numerous Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) climate, energy, and conservation priority areas and will provide $900 billion in critical economic stimulus relief to Americans reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic. The measure also includes major energy innovation legislation that will advance  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- The Environmental Defense Fund issued the following news release on Dec. 23: A federal appeals court agreed with the Environmental Protection Agency today that the San Antonio, Texas area has unhealthy levels of smog. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld EPA's determination that San Antonio's air quality does not meet the nation's health-based standard for ground-level ozone pollution, commonly known as smog. "Today's decision means that Texans can breat  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 (TNSRep) -- The Environmental Defense Fund issued the following news release on Dec. 22: The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) released its long overdue revision of the 1991 Lead and Copper Rule (LCR), ignoring extensive evidence it received in public comments highlighting major flaws. Among other issues, the agency failed to address environmental justice concerns raised by a recent American University-EDF analysis revealing that a lead pipe replacement program in Washington  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- Ethics and International Affairs, a peer-reviewed journal that says it features principles of justice and morality into discussions of dilemmas related to policy developments, global institutional arrangements and the conduct of important international actors from the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, published research articles, including the following topics, in its Winter 2020 edition: Roundtable - International Institutions and Peaceful Change: * Wh  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 (TNSRep) -- The Counter Extremism Project issued the following news release: The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) reports weekly on the methods used by extremists to exploit the Internet and social media platforms to recruit followers and incite violence. Last week, ISIS released a new, hour-long video titled "To Be Absolved Before Your Lord 3" criticizing its rivals, including al-Qaeda and al-Shabaab and condemning the Muslim Brotherhood for trying to implement Islamic law thr  more

ALBANY, New York, Dec. 23 -- The Food and Water Watch issued the following news release on Dec. 21: A coalition of environmental organizations released an analysis revealing that, despite New York's ban on fracking, oil and gas liquid waste is permitted for deicing of roads for 33 different cities, towns, and private entities. This practice is ongoing despite New York's recently adopted law that closes a loophole that once exempted oil and gas waste from being classified as hazardous waste. Oil  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 -- The Food and Water Watch issued the following news release on Dec. 21: Northeast states are releasing a draft agreement on the Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI), a market-based cap and trade program that supporters argue will reduce auto emissions. The approach was recently criticized by a coalition of environmental justice organizations, who point out that the program would likely increase pollution in communities struggling with high pollution burdens. At least   more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- The Food Bank For New York City issued the following news: Food Bank For New York City released the following statement in response to the newly passed COVID relief package, which provides incremental support for struggling families, including a temporary increase to SNAP through June, 2021 and additional food for the federal program that supports our nation's network of Food Banks. Food Bank For New York City's President and CEO Leslie Gordon said: "As COVID-19 and econo  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- Fordham International Law Journal, a journal from Fordham University School of Law, published research articles on the following topics in its December 2020 edition: Articles: * Mind the (Homogeneity) Gap: Independence of Referring Bodies Requesting Advisory Opinions from the EFTA Court * Designing Bills of Rights in Contested Contexts: Reflections on the Northern Ireland Experience * The Long Arm of State Aid Law: Crushing Corporate Tax Avoidance * Bargained Justice:   more

BRONX, New York, Dec. 22 -- The Fordham Political Review issued the following commentary by Michael Sluck: At the beginning of his presidency, Donald Trump made headlines when he refused to accept the presidential salary, instead donating the money to various government agencies (while it is constitutionally required that the president take a salary, Trump only accepts one dollar a year). It's not that surprising (or that much of a sacrifice), as Trump is a billionaire, and the presidential sal  more

COLD SPRING HARBOR, New York, Dec. 26 -- Genome Research, a journal that says it focuses on studies on the structure, function, biology and evolution of genomes of organisms, with emphasis on genome-scale analyses, chromatin structure and function, epigenomics, systems genetics and proteomics, published research articles, including the following topics, in its December 2020 edition: Research: * Complex mosaic structural variations in human fetal brains * Widespread intron retention impairs pr  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- The Hispanic Federation issued the following news release: As Latino communities across the United States continue to be disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hispanic Federation announced its third round of grants, over $2.75 million to 151 Latino community-based nonprofits serving vulnerable families and individuals across 22 states and Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. These grantees continue to provide emergency aid and educational support to the most  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- The Hispanic Federation issued the following news release: Hispanic Federation, one of the nation's leading organizations dedicated to supporting and empowering the Latino community, issued the following statement on President-elect Joe Biden's nomination of Dr. Miguel Cardona. Hispanic Federation President, Frankie Miranda said: "The selection of Dr. Miguel Cardona by President-elect Joe Biden to lead the Department of Education is a critical step to build back our nation  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news release: It is hard to imagine a less hospitable environment in the United States for workers to organize than Alabama, where state law seriously curtails unions. But that is exactly what a group of Amazon warehouse employees in Bessemer, Alabama are attempting. In November, they notified the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) of their intent to hold a vote on whether to unionize. But failed promises from past US administrati  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news release on Dec. 23: A new rebel coalition in the Central African Republic has created havoc in the run-up to the country's legislative and presidential elections, scheduled for December 27, 2020, Human Rights Watch said today. The new coalition is called the Coalition of Patriots for Change (Coalition des patriotes pour le changement, CPC). Over the past five years, the groups that make up the new coalition have committed war cr  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news release on Dec. 22: The Chinese government's heightened repression from Xinjiang to Hong Kong threatens its hosting of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach. The Beijing Winter Olympics are scheduled to begin on February 4, 2022. Human Rights Watch detailed extensive concerns about the human rights climate for hosting the games in Ch  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- Human Rights Watch issued the following joint statement with 27 organizations: We, the undersigned human rights and humanitarian organizations, call on all stakeholders to ensure people in Iran have swift, unencumbered, and equitable access to safe, effective, and affordable Covid-19 vaccines. We particularly call on the government of the United States to provide assurances to financial institutions that they will not be subject to US sanctions for facilitating transfers of  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news release: On Dec. 18, prosecutors from the U.S. Justice Department charged a China-based Zoom executive with conspiring to terminate Zoom meetings this year that commemorated the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre at the Chinese government's behest. The 47-page complaint contains detailed exchanges between the executive and employees at Zoom's California headquarters this year. It was a fascinating read, not least because few global   more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news release: This year has been devastating for children. The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the education of 1.5 billion students, pushed an estimated 150 million additional children into poverty, left many without caregivers, and increased child labor, child marriage, and violence in the home. But despite the enormous hardships, the year has also brought some good news for kids. As we finish the year, here are 10 areas of progress fr  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news release: Ainagul from Aktobe, Gulnara from Kostanai, Arailym from Almaty, and Madina from Karaganda: these women from cities across Kazakhstan share a painful connection. They are all survivors of domestic violence at the hands of their abusive partners or husbands. Their personal stories were made public this year, after they or activists who advocated on their behalf, had lost any hope that the state would offer adequate prot  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news release on Dec. 22: Kyrgyz authorities have increased scrutiny of trade union leaders, including through criminal investigations, and are unduly interfering in legitimate trade union activities in the country, Human Rights Watch said today. On November 21, 2020, the Office of the Prime Minister barred the country's main trade union body, the Federation of Trade Unions of Kyrgyzstan, from holding its December 4 congress, when ele  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news release on Dec. 22: The Nicaraguan Congress passed a law proposed by President Daniel Ortega on December 21, 2020 that appears designed to bar opposition candidates from participating in the 2021 presidential elections, Human Rights Watch said today. Member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) and the European Union (EU) should urgently condemn this legislation that threatens Nicaraguans' rights to run for office a  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 (TNSRep) -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news release on Dec. 22: Qatari authorities have failed to provide redress for hundreds of migrant workers who are suffering from months of unpaid wages at two companies, even though authorities have repeatedly been informed of these abuses, Human Rights Watch said today. The Workers' Support and Insurance Fund, which the government established in 2018 specifically to ensure that workers are paid their wages when companies f  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news release: The Teitiota family from a little-known Pacific island didn't intend to become a catalyst for expanding the concept of asylum--but they became one anyway. In 2015, New Zealand denied the family's asylum claim and deported them, despite the parents' plea that their three children's health and well-being were at risk amid crop failure, withering coconut trees, overcrowding, disease, and conflict caused by rising sea level  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news release on Dec. 23: A Moscow court sentenced Yuliya Galyamina, a member of Moscow's municipal assembly, to a 2-year suspended sentence today for posting information on social media and taking part in a peaceful public assembly earlier this year. Galyamina had posted about collecting signatures protesting the controversial results of the vote in favor of constitutional amendments in July this year. Galyamina was one of the leader  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 (TNSRep) -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news release: The African Court on Human and People's Rights has held that states' laws enabling the detention of people who, often because of poverty, are forced to live on the street, violate human rights law. On December 4, the regional human rights court delivered an opinion upholding the rights of people deemed "vagrants" by the state. The opinion, issued in response to a request by the Pan African Lawyers Union, conclu  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news release on Dec. 23: Saudi Arabia should put in place labor and immigration reforms to protect domestic workers, including personal drivers, Human Rights Watch said today. New Human Rights Watch research highlights that domestic workers remain the least protected and most vulnerable to abuse. The Saudi authorities announced reforms in October 2020 to the notorious kafala (sponsorship) system, which ties the legal status of millio  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news release on Dec. 22: The South Korean government should revise recent amendments to the National Intelligence Service Act that could be abused by the country's intelligence agency, Human Rights Watch said today. The amendments, rather than constraining the authority of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), contains broad and vaguely defined language and authorizes the agency to continue collecting information under the outdated  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 25 -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news release on Dec. 24: The Turkish government should withdraw provisions in a draft law that would arbitrarily curtail nongovernmental organizations' activities and have the potential to violate the right to freedom of association, Human Rights Watch said today. Parliament is due to vote on the law on December 24, 2020. The draft law, the Law on Preventing Financing of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, has ostensibly be  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news release on Dec. 11: Turkey must ensure the immediate release from detention of an opposition politician, Selahattin Demirtas, following a European Court of Human Rights' Grand Chamber ruling on December 22, 2020, Human Rights Watch said today. The Grand Chamber ruled that in initially detaining Demirtas and then prolonging his detention for over four years, the Turkish government pursued an ulterior purpose of preventing him fro  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news release on Dec. 22: Thousands of people in the village of Apaa in Northern Uganda may be unable to vote in the January 14, 2021 elections if authorities do not take urgent steps to update the voters' register, Human Rights Watch said today. Against the backdrop of a decade-long land dispute with the government, the Apaa community members have been denied many of their rights. Between November 2019 and March 2020, Uganda's Electo  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news release on Dec. 22: Venezuelan authorities are harassing and criminally prosecuting civil society organizations that are doing essential work to address the ongoing humanitarian emergency in the country, Human Rights Watch said today. Starting in November 2020, Venezuelan authorities under Nicolas Maduro and security forces have carried out a systematic campaign against human rights and humanitarian groups operating in the count  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 (TNSRes) -- The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai issued the following news release on Dec. 21: Royalty Pharma (Nasdaq: RPRX) today announced a charitable contribution by Royalty Pharma in the amount of $1,000,000 to Mount Sinai Health System. The funds will be used to support: * Mount Sinai's Center for Post-COVID Care (CPCC) and Post-COVID Registry: Royalty Pharma's charitable contribution will study the long-term consequences of Covid-19 infection and provide advance  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- New York Civil Liberties Union issued the following news release: In papers filed Friday evening, the New York Civil Liberties Union and The Bronx Defenders requested court enforcement in Velesaca v. Wolf, their case challenging the ICE New York Field Office's use of a secret policy to jail virtually all of the thousands of people they have arrested over the last three years. As part of this "no-release policy," in mid-2017 ICE rigged its own risk assessment algorithm to pr  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, a peer-reviewed journal from the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society, published research articles, including the following topics, in its January 2021 edition: * Collision Avoidance Interaction Between Human and a Hidden Robot Based on Kinect and Robot Data Fusion * Design of Piezoelectric Actuators By Optimizing the Electrodes Topology * Ground and Aerial Collaborative Mapping in Urban Environments * Heteroscedastic Bayesian Optimi  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 21 -- IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking, a peer-reviewed journal that says it explores the area of communication and computer networking from the IEEE Communications Society, published research articles, including the following topics, in its December 2020 edition: * Burstable Instances for Clouds: Performance Modeling, Equilibrium Analysis, and Revenue Maximization * CleanG--Improving the Architecture and Protocols for Future Cellular Networks With NFV * Counterintuitive Cha  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 21 -- The International Federation of Accountants issued the following news release on Dec. 21: Earlier today the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) released updates to two previously published international standard support resources: * Agreed-Upon Procedures (AUP) Engagements: A Growth and Value Opportunity (the AUP Publication) (https://www.ifac.org/knowledge-gateway/supporting-international-standards/publications/agreed-upon-procedures-engagements-0): Describes A  more

ITHACA, New York, Dec. 24 -- ILR Review, a journal that says it features globalization, capital and labor mobility, inequality, wage setting, unemployment, labor market dynamics, international migration, work organization and technology, human resource management and personnel economics, demographic and ethnic differences in labor markets, workplace conflicts, alternative forms of representation and labor regulation from the Cornell University, published research articles on the following topics  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- Immigration Equality issued the following news release on Dec. 21: Today, Immigration Equality, Lambda Legal, and co-counsel Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP, filed a federal lawsuit, Immigration Equality v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, challenging the Trump administration's recently published "death to asylum" rule, and asking the court to stop the rule before it goes into effect. The rule makes sweeping, essentially fatal changes to the United States asylum sy  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Journal from the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, published research articles, including the following topics, in its January 2021 edition: Clinical Research: * Incidence, Clinical Characteristics, and Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Single-Center Study in Madrid, Spain * The Incidence and Prevalence of Human Papilloma Virus-associated Cancers in IBD * Mental Health Costs of Inflammatory Bowel Di  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- The Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, a journal that says it features application of mechanical engineering principles on the improvement of human health from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, published research articles on the following topics in its February 2021 edition: Research Papers: * Foot Rotation Gait Modifications Affect Hip and Ankle, But Not Knee, Stance Phase Joint Reaction Forces During Running * On the Reliability of Suction Measurements fo  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- The Journal of Cosmetic Science, a journal that says it dedicates to the advancement of cosmetic science from the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, published research articles on the following topics in its November/December 2020 edition: * Antibacterial Activity of Senkyunolide A Isolated from Cnidium Officinale Extract * Application of Biosurfactants and Biopolymers in Sustainable Cosmetic Formulation Design * Detection and Analysis of Ceramide in Skin and Blood in a Health  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 (TNSRep) -- Lambda Legal issued the following news release on Dec. 21: Today, Lambda Legal, Immigration Equality, and co-counsel Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP, filed a federal lawsuit, Immigration Equality v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, challenging the Trump administration's recently published "death to asylum" rule, which makes sweeping, essentially fatal changes to the United States asylum system. The rule, which is set to go into effect on January 11, 2021,  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 (TNSRep) -- The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund issued the following news release on Dec. 22: The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), a non-partisan civil and human rights organization, filed an amended complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia a lawsuit challenging President Trump and the Trump Campaign's ongoing efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election by disenfranchising Black voters. The amended co  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 (TNSRep) -- The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund issued the following news release on Dec. 22: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released a report from the Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice, despite the U.S. District Court's decision that the Commission had violated the law. In response, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the Open Society Policy Cen  more

RYE BROOK, New York, Dec. 22 -- The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society issued the following statement: * * * The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society issues the following statement in response to Congress including policies designed to protect patients from surprise medical bills in the stimulus bill scheduled for a vote Monday, Dec. 21, 2020: LLS applauds Congress for reaching a bipartisan agreement that will, after years of work, hold patients harmless from surprise medical bills. Patients are now one s  more

COLD SPRING HARBOR, New York, Dec. 22 -- The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory issued the following news: Biological changes in the breast that happen during pregnancy decrease breast cancer risk. In this episode of LIVE At the Lab, Camila dos Santos, assistant professor and Cancer Center member at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), describes how her lab uses organoid models to study how pregnancy permanently alters gene expression. Her findings can help researchers develop methods for preventin  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- The Medicare Rights Center issued the following news release: The Medicare Rights Center welcomes passage in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives of key provisions of the Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Act (S. 1280/H.R. 2477). Included in the year-end spending bill, these policies will update Medicare enrollment rules for the first time in over 50 years to end lengthy waits for coverage, expand critical administr  more

CAMBRIDGE, England, Dec. 22 -- Modern American History Journal published research articles on the following topics in its November 2020 edition: Articles: * Prescribing Sound: Willem Van de Wall and the Carceral Origins of American Music Therapy * "The Miracle of You": Women's Sex Education and the Marketing of Kotex * "The Worst Divorce Case that Ever Happened": The New York Times Women's Caucus and Workplace Feminism * Watergate, the Bipartisan Struggle for Media Access, and the Growth o  more

BRONX, New York, Dec. 19 (TNSRes) -- Montefiore Health System issued the following news release: People hospitalized with COVID-19 and neurological problems, including stroke and confusion, have a higher risk of dying than other COVID-19 patients, according to a study published online today by researchers at Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the journal Neurology(R), the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. These findings have the potential to   more

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Dec. 23 -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints issued the following news release: More than 200 deliveries of food to local pantries across the state of New York were made by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2020 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. "We've been blessed by the Lord. We've been blessed by the generosity of the members of the Church and been able to, in this way, help in a great   more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund issued the following news release on Dec. 21: Yesterday, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), All Voting is Local, Georgia, Georgia NAACP, Black Voters Matter Fund, SPLC Action Fund and the League of Women Voters sent letters to officials in Gwinnett and Athens-Clarke Counties urging them to reject the baseless claims being made to challenge voter eligibility ahead of the January 5, 2021 runoff election. The let  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- The National Association of City Transportation Officials issued the following statement on Dec. 22: * * * Corinne Kisner, Executive Director of the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), today issued the following statement in response to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, Congress' newly passed economic relief package. In the face of immense need, Congress finally passed a bill that provides $14 billion in sorely-needed relief for transit agenc  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 -- The National Consumer Law Center issued the following news release: Several civil rights and consumer groups filed an amicus brief in support of the attorneys general of California, Illinois, and New York in their case against a rule from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) that encourages predatory lending through "rent-a-bank" schemes. The OCC's non-bank interest rate rule facilitates non-bank lenders' efforts to form superficial partnerships with banks   more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- The National Employment Law Project issued the following statement by Executive Director Rebecca Dixon: * * * "The National Employment Law Project (NELP) is proud to stand in solidarity with people across the United States who demand a just response from our government to the COVID-19 pandemic and recession. Although we support the passage of this legislation that would yield temporary relief for millions, we also recognize that it falls far short of the just recovery we n  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- The National Multiple Sclerosis Society issued the following news: On Monday, December 21, Congress passed H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which provides funding for the federal government for the remainder of fiscal year (FY) 2021, additional COVID-19 pandemic-related relief, and other important health measures that impact people with MS. The President is expected to sign the legislation soon. MS Activists' hard work throughout the year resulted in   more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 (TNSRes) -- The National Multiple Sclerosis Society issued the following news: A team from Israel's Hadassah University Hospital has published results from a phase 2 clinical trial of mesenchymal stem cell therapy in active, progressive MS. "Mesenchymal stem cells" are adult stem cells found in several places in the body, including the bone marrow, skin and fat tissue. Participants were 48 people with progressive MS with moderate to more severe disability. There were three st  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 (TNSJou) -- The National Multiple Sclerosis Society issued the following news: Nerve pain alone was the least common pain experience, according to a survey of 842 people with MS with chronic pain. Specific types of pain are treated differently. So, it is crucial to understand the origin of pain in a person with MS to optimize strategies that bring relief. * Several types of pain occur in people with MS. * "Neuropathic" pain happens from "short circuiting" of the nerves that   more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- The National Basketball Association issued the following news release on Dec. 21: The NBA announced today that the Milwaukee Bucks violated league rules governing the timing of this season's free agency discussions and that the league has rescinded the Bucks' 2022 second round draft pick. The league conducted an investigation into whether the Bucks had discussions with Bogdan Bogdanovic and/or his agent regarding a free agent contract prior to the date when such discussion  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- The National Basketball Association issued the following news release on Dec. 23: NBA G League referees Simone Jelks, Suyash Mehta and Andy Nagy have been promoted to full-time NBA staff officials, it was announced today by Monty McCutchen, NBA Senior Vice President, Head of Referee Development and Training. "We are pleased to welcome Simone, Suyash and Andy to our full-time staff," said McCutchen. "They have demonstrated through the growth and the quality of their perform  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- The National Basketball Association issued the following news release on Dec. 22: The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced that 107 international players from 41 countries are on opening-night rosters for the 2020-21 season, including a record 17 Canadian players and a record-tying 14 African players. This marks the seventh consecutive season that opening-night rosters feature at least 100 international players. All 30 teams have at least one international   more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- The National Basketball Association issued the following news release: The National Basketball Association game scheduled for tonight between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center has been postponed in accordance with the league's Health and Safety Protocols. Three Houston Rockets players have returned tests that were either positive or inconclusive for coronavirus under the NBA's testing program. Following the contact tracing protocol, four ot  more

ALBANY, New York, Dec. 22 (TNSRep) -- Earthworks issued the following news release on Dec. 21: A coalition of environmental organizations released an analysis revealing that, despite New York's ban on fracking, oil and gas liquid waste is permitted for deicing of roads for 33 different cities, towns, and private entities. This practice is ongoing despite New York's recently adopted law that closes a loophole that once exempted oil and gas waste from being classified as hazardous waste. Oil and   more

BUFFALO, New York, Dec. 25 -- The Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center issued the following news release: As 2020 draws to a close, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center announces the hiring or promotion of leaders across numerous clinical, research and administrative departments. Recently appointed staff include newly named vice presidents, chiefs, a new department chair and additional roles in value-based care and genetics. "This is an outstanding slate of leaders who are committed to  more

NEW ROCHELLE, New York, Dec. 24 -- New Space, a peer-reviewed journal that says it features academic, industry and government contributions to space entrepreneurship and innovation, published research articles on the following topics in its December 2020 edition: Perspective: * Resilience of New Space Firms in the United Kingdom During the Early Stages of COVID-19 Crisis: The Case for Strategic Agility Original Articles: * Formation of Peruvian Professionals with Knowledge in Aerospace Tec  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 25 -- The New York City Bar Association issued the following joint letter on Dec. 24 by President Sheila S. Boston and Stephen L. Kass, chair, task force on the rule of law: * * * Among the greatest tragedies of the last four years has been the continuing actions of Trump Administration officials to undermine the rule of law in our nation. Many of these actions have the potential to cause lasting damage to our democratic institutions and our nation. Repairing that damage and reb  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- The New York Public Library issued the following news release on Dec. 21: In a year that brought profound change, New Yorkers relied on books offering perspective, comfort, and hope, according to the top checkouts of 2020, released today by the City's three library systems. Brooklyn Public Library, The New York Public Library (which serves the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island), and Queens Public Library have each released their top 10 checkouts of 2020, and the City's m  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- New York Civil Liberties Union issued the following statement on Dec. 22: * * * Today Governor Cuomo signed automatic voter registration into law, establishing a system that will make voting more accessible and expand the electorate in New York. In response, the New York Civil Liberties Union issued the following statement from executive director Donna Lieberman: "Today, Governor Cuomo brought voting one step closer to the 21st century by signing automatic voter registrat  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- New York Civil Liberties Union issued the following news release on Dec. 22: Today Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law a moratorium on biometric surveillance tools, including facial recognition, in New York schools. The first-of-its-kind legislation halts the use of a face surveillance system in the Lockport City School District, which was first put into use in January 2020. "The moratorium on biometric surveillance is a landmark piece of legislation that should serve as  more

ALBANY, New York, Dec. 25 -- New York Civil Liberties Union issued the following news release on Dec. 24: Last night, Governor Cuomo signed a bill into law that will protect the confidentiality of contact tracing information and prohibit access by police and immigration enforcement. Sponsored by the chairs of the Assembly and Senate Health Committees, Assemblymember Richard Gottfried and Senator Gustavo Rivera, this law will help ensure that contact tracing achieves its public health goals and   more

LATHAM, New York, Dec. 23 -- The New York State United Teachers issued the following statement on Dec. 22: * * * New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta released the following statement today regarding funding for New York K-12 schools and colleges included in the federal COVID emergency relief package: "It is welcome news that this relief package would bring sorely needed support for New York schools and colleges, and we thank Sen. Schumer and the rest of the delegation for fi  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 25 -- NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital issued the following news release: The risk of dying seven years after coronary artery bypass surgery was significantly lower in men receiving multiple bypass grafts rather than single grafts, but there was no apparent difference in mortality between these methods in women, according to a study led by investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian and the University at Albany School of Public Health. The landmark finding raises i  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- The National Kidney Foundation issued the following statement on Dec. 22: * * * "Last night the U.S. Senate passed landmark immunosuppressive drug legislation, which has the potential to save the lives of kidney transplant patients throughout our nation. "The National Kidney Foundation applauds Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) for their leadership in passing legislation to extend Medicare coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transpla  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 25 (TNSGra) -- The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers issued the following news release on Dec. 24: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo granted 14 pardons and seven commutations today. Two commutations were granted to individuals who petitioned the governor through the NACDL/FAMM State Clemency Project - Theresa Debo and Joseph Norman. The Project issued the following statement: "We congratulate Mr. Norman, Ms. Debo, and their counsel, and all of the recipients of cle  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- NYU Langone Health, an academic medical center affiliated with New York University, issued the following news release: NYU Langone Health has opened a state-of-the-art, comprehensive Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center that brings together all elements of care for adult patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The newly designed 12,500-square-foot outpatient care center located at 305 East 33rd Street, has 9 exam rooms and a 6-bay infusion center, providing the   more

LEWIS, New York, Dec. 22 -- The Open Space Institute issued the following news release on Dec. 21: Building on more than three decades of protecting land in and around the Adirondack Park Preserve, the Open Space Institute (OSI) today announced the permanent protection of forested land in the Towns of Chesterfield and Lewis in Essex County. Comprised of hardwood and softwood forests, a variety of wetlands, and containing seven medium-sized peaks, the new acquisition furthers regional connectivi  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids issued the following statement: * * * "The CDC recently released data indicating that the coronavirus pandemic has significantly exacerbated the addiction epidemic in our country. There were 81,230 unintentional overdose deaths in the 12 months ending May 2020, making that time period the deadliest year on record in terms of overdose fatalities. "These deaths included a 38.4% increase in synthetic opioid fatalities, 26.5% in cocaine over  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Dec. 22 (TNSRep) -- The U.S. Public Interest Research Group issued the following news release: Governors from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut along with the mayor of Washington, D.C., signed onto the landmark Transportation and Climate Initiative Program (TCI-P) Monday. The regional program, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, will invest in clean transportation projects, including zero emission electric v  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 (TNSGra) -- The Police Benevolent Association of New York issued the following statement: * * * PBA President Patrick J. Lynch said: "This will be the twenty-second Christmas that P.O. Anthony Mosomillo does not get to spend at home with his family. "He does not get to petition for release from his sentence. "The reckless New York State Parole Board already gave Betsy Ramos a second chance she did not deserve, and yet she continued her misconduct behind bars. "We thank  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 21 -- The Police Benevolent Association of New York issued the following statement on Dec. 19: * * * PBA President Patrick J. Lynch said: "Whether we're standing on a Queens street corner or sitting in a patrol car in Brooklyn, New York City police officers never forget that our uniform makes us a target. "In today's anti-police environment, these threats are more serious than ever before. "Those in power who use their platform to demonize police officers need to realize th  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- The Center for Constitutional Rights issued the following joint statement on Dec. 22: * * * The Center for Constitutional Rights and Palestine Legal put out the following statement in response to the New York appellate division's decision today in Awad v. Fordham: In a hasty decision short on analysis, a New York appellate division court reversed a thorough, well-reasoned ruling by the trial court that Fordham violated its own policies when it refused to recognize a Stude  more

OSSINING, New York, Dec. 23 -- Riverkeeper issued the following news release on Dec. 22: The Rise to Resilience coalition applauds full passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA) by the Senate with bipartisan support as part of the larger Covid-19 relief and appropriations package. Including WRDA in the package marks a major win for Congress and the coalition in its fight to build resilience to climate change in the New YorkNew Jersey metropolitan region. The legislation, au  more

LONG ISLAND, New York, Dec. 23 -- Save the Sound issued the following news release on Dec. 21: Congress is poised to take a major step towards permanent conservation of Plum Island. The federal budget package released Monday afternoon includes language (Division FF, Title V) repealing 2009 and 2012 bills associated with the plan to relocate the animal disease research facility on Plum Island to Manhattan, Kansas. The House and Senate passed the bill Monday night with an hour to spare. The presi  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 21 -- Science Translational Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal from the American Association for the Advancement of Science that focuses on research in the translational medicine community, published research articles on the following topics in its Dec. 16, 2020 edition: Report: * Lung transplantation for patients with severe COVID-19 Research Articles: * Receptor-gated IL-2 delivery by an anti-human IL-2 antibody activates regulatory T cells in three different species * Tar  more

OAKLAND, California, Dec. 23 -- The Sierra Club issued the following statement: * * * Four jurisdictions - Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Washington, DC - have signed onto a final memorandum of understanding for the Transportation and Climate Initiative Program (TCI-P), a cap-and-invest program for reducing transportation emissions in the Northeast. Eight other states - Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Vermont, Pennsylvania and Virginia - signed a state  more

WHITE PLAINS, New York, Dec. 22 -- The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers issued the following news on Dec. 21: As recent events have illustrated, the media industry's need for more sophisticated remote collaboration capabilities in virtually every content creation category has never been greater. With that need comes more urgency regarding the development of interoperable multi-cloud tools across the production chain. And to achieve that goal, many experts believe the only logi  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 (TNSRes) -- The National Multiple Sclerosis Society issued the following news: Seizures are not very common in people with MS, but occur more frequently than in the general population and may not respond well to traditional drug treatments. In an effort to understand the mechanism of seizures in people in MS, researchers at the University of California, Riverside, examined tissue samples obtained at autopsy from people with MS who had experienced seizures, and from people who   more

ALBANY, New York, Dec. 22 -- United University Professions issued the following statement by President Frederick E. Kowal: * * * "We are grateful to Sen. Charles Schumer for his staunch support of SUNY and the crucial services provided by UUP members throughout the system, and especially at the three public teaching hospitals, in delivering the necessary COVID-19 relief package. We appreciate his tireless tenacity and the work of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and a bipartisan congressional delegatio  more

ALBANY, New York, Dec. 22 -- United University Professions issued the following statement by President Frederick E. Kowal: * * * "United University Professions welcomes the nomination of Dr. Miguel Cardona as U.S. Secretary of Education. Given the devastation the coronavirus pandemic has wreaked on the nation's public schools, colleges and universities, there isn't a minute to lose in securing strong leadership in this most important post. "As the nation's largest higher education union, with  more

ALBANY, New York, Dec. 23 -- The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities issued the following statement by Interim President Drew Bogner: * * * "On behalf of New York's 100+ private, not-for-profit colleges and universities and our nearly 500,000 students, we thank New York's congressional delegation for securing necessary aid for struggling college students and institutions. "This aid is only one step toward easing the economic burdens students and families are bearing as a resu  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 21 -- The William J. Clinton Foundation issued the following statement on Dec. 19: * * * With the passing of Governor William F. Winter, Mississippi has lost one of its greatest champions of equality, reconciliation, and progress; and I have lost a friend, an inspiration, and one of the finest people I've ever known. I was so lucky as a young governor of a southern state to have a partner just across the river to work with and learn from. Bill had the gift to see his state as i  more

LATHAM, New York, Dec. 23 -- The New York State School Boards Association issued the following statement by Executive Director Robert Schneider: * * * We are pleased that Congress has passed a new stimulus package. Prior to this package, schools faced the possibility of a $5 billion aid cut. Congress has greatly improved an otherwise dire financial situation for schools. The federal aid package will help to blunt a potential severe state aid cut for public education, but without federal relie  more

LATHAM, New York, Dec. 24 -- The New York State School Boards Association issued the following statement by Executive Director Robert Schneider: * * * It is essential that the $900 billion stimulus plan negotiated and passed in an overwhelmingly bipartisan manner by the Senate and the House of Representatives be signed by the president and implemented immediately. To be sure, this package is not all we had hoped for, and it is not the last federal assistance that will be needed to help state  more

BROOKLYN, New York, Dec. 23 (TNSPer) -- Downstate Medical Center issued the following news release on Dec. 22: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced yesterday the appointment of SUNY Downstate Health Sciences Center's Dr. Wayne J. Riley to New York's Vaccine Equity Task Force. The Task Force's focus is to ensure that vulnerable and underserved communities are part of the state's vaccination program and ensure equitable distribution statewide. "Governor Cuomo has assembled some of the best minds i  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- Teach For America issued the following statement on Dec. 21: * * * President-elect Biden has made it clear that education would be a priority issue for his administration, drawing attention to the widening inequalities students face as our schools and communities navigate the disruption caused by the pandemic. Today's announcement by President-elect Biden of his nomination of Dr. Miguel A. Cardona as Secretary of Education is an important step toward addressing the issue  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 19 (TNSRep) -- TIAA, a provider of financial services in the academic, research, medical, cultural and governmental fields, issued the following news release: The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased employers' focus on employee physical and financial health yet has also created gaps between their perceptions about the benefits employees need and their employees' expectations. Sixty-nine percent of employers say they have increased their focus on improving employees' fina  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 (TNSPer) -- The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum issued the following news release: President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council: Richard Grenell of California Martin Oliner of New York Susan Levine of Arizona A living memorial to the Holocaust, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum inspires citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dign  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- The Vera Institute of Justice issued the following news release on Dec. 22: Lawmakers in Congress voted today to lift a 26-year-old ban on Pell Grants for people in prison. The restoration of access to Pell Grants means that incarcerated people can once again apply for federal Pell Grants in order to pay for college courses. Access to education is transformative, and today's bipartisan vote will improve community safety for everyone while also opening a new chapter of oppo  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 (TNSRep) -- Waterkeeper Alliance issued the following news release on Dec. 22: A coalition of environmental groups today filed an amended complaint challenging a Trump administration rule redefining "waters of the United States" (WOTUS) that would strip Clean Water Act protections from approximately half of the nation's wetlands and potentially millions of miles of streams. The final rule allows polluters to pave over wetlands and to dump pesticides, mining waste, and other p  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- The Women's Refugee Commission issued the following news release: Following a call this weekend between President-elect Joe Biden and Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in which they discussed what Biden called a "new and orderly humane approach to migration," the incoming administration Monday highlighted initial plans on immigration and asylum. Biden has already promised to immediately end certain Trump-era border policies that eviscerated the U.S. asylum sys  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 (TNSRep) -- The World Jewish Congress issued the following news release: As governments and international organizations work together to determine who will get the COVID-19 vaccine first, and how quickly, the World Jewish Congress (WJC) and the World Council of Churches (WCC) released a joint paper laying out moral questions for religious leaders and organizations to raise in policy discussions around vaccine distribution. The paper, an "invitation to reflection and engageme  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- The World Jewish Congress issued the following news release on Dec. 21: A German court concluded the five-month trial of the attacker who attempted to break into a synagogue on Yom Kippur in the town of Halle and then shot two bystanders. The perpetrator was sentenced to life in prison. The World Jewish Congress is gratified that the German justice system appropriately brought the assailant, a far-right extremist and Holocaust denier, to justice. World Jewish Congress Pre  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- The World Trade Centers Association issued the following news: The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), in partnership with business publication Latin Trade , unveiled its first WTC Prime Office Index LatAm 2020/2021. The index measures the recent and expected performance of sales and leases of premium office space in the Latin American. Moreover, on-the-ground insights from interviews with WTCA members around the region reveal that while the COVID-19 pandemic has brough  more