ABILENE, Texas, Jan. 12 -- Abilene Christian University issued the following news: A thin volume of Galileo's 1610 landmark treatise The Starry Messenger sits on a bookshelf at oil and gas executive Doug Robison's Abilene home. Within its pages, the famous astronomer, who turned his telescope to the stars to provide firsthand observation that ours is a sun-centered solar system and not an Earth-centered one, describes his shift in understanding of the universe: "I went from doubt to astonishmen  more

FRAMINGHAM, Massachusetts, Jan. 13 -- Ameresco, a provider of energy efficiency solutions, issued the following news release on Jan. 12: Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC), a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, today announced that it achieved mechanical completion at its McCarty Road landfill gas to renewable natural gas plant located in Houston, Texas. This facility has a gross nameplate in excess of 1.1 million Dekatherms per year and is capable of processing 4,500 scfm of raw la  more

SAN ANGELO, Texas, Jan. 13 -- Angelo State University issued the following news release: Angelo State University's chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi (PKP) national honor society has been recognized as a 2020-21 Circle of Excellence Platinum Chapter, the highest commendation a chapter can receive from the national PKP organization. The ASU chapter is one of only 67 chapters recognized by the PKP Circle of Excellence program for 2020-21, and one of only 21 to be awarded the Platinum designation. Ther  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 12 -- The Austin Community College District issued the following news: Austin Community College District (ACC) and Texas A&M University-Central Texas (A&M-Central Texas) are expanding their partnership. Together, the institutions are building new, seamless undergraduate and graduate transfer pathways for ACC students seeking advanced degrees in Business Administration and Computer Information Systems at A&M-Central Texas. The institutions host a joint virtual signing ceremon  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 13 -- The Austin Community College District issued the following news: The Austin Community College District (ACC) Board of Trustees approved the 2021 state legislative priorities during its regular board meeting Monday, January 11. All policy initiatives are in line with ACC's mission to promote student success and community development through accessible and affordable education and workforce training for our service area. Priorities for the 87th Texas Legislative Session  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 12 (TNSPer) -- The Austin Community College District issued the following news: The Austin Community College District (ACC) hosts its first regular board meeting of 2021 3 p.m., Monday, January 11. The meeting is the Board's first full meeting with newly elected Trustee Dana Walker as well as newly elected board officers. In December, the Board elected Dr. Nan McRaven as Board chair, Dr. Nora deHoyos Comstock as vice chair, and Trustee Nicole Eversmann as secretary. "2021   more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Jan. 16 -- Lipscomb University issued the following news on Jan. 15: The Austin Graduate School of Theology (AGST) located in Austin, Texas, will merge with Lipscomb University, officials from both institutions announced today. Under the terms of the merger agreement, AGST will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lipscomb. Both institutions have been in existence for more than a century, share a common faith heritage and are accredited by the Southern Association of Coll  more

WACO, Texas, Jan. 12 -- Baylor University issued the following news on Jan. 11: Baylor University announced today that Judge Lady, one of the University's two beloved American black bears, is progressing to the next phase of her recovery and rehabilitation from a successful operation to remove a cyst that developed around her spinal column. The surgery occurred in August 2020 at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) in College Station. Under the close and loving watch of he  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 14 -- The Baylor College of Medicine issued the following news release: A new collaboration between researchers at the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Co. will aid researchers in providing care for children with hookworm infection in rural Alabama. Hookworm infection is caused by a worm parasite, with the most serious effect being blood loss that can lead to anemia, protein loss, cognitive disabilities an  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 16 (TNSRes) -- The Baylor College of Medicine issued the following news release: Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have discovered how therapeutics targeting RNA splicing can activate antiviral immune pathways in triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) to trigger tumor cell death and signal the body's immune response. A new study published in Cell shows that endogenous mis-spliced RNA in tumor cells mimics an RNA virus, leading tumor cells to self-destruct as if fight  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 15 -- CenterPoint Energy issued the following news release on Jan. 14: The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) today announced CenterPoint Energy as a recipient of six EEI's Emergency Response Awards, for the company's work following hurricanes Delta, Hannah, Isaias, Laura, Sally and Zeta. Presented to EEI member companies, Emergency Response Awards recognize recovery and assistance efforts of electric companies following service disruptions caused by extreme weather or other n  more

MURFREESBORO, North Carolina, Jan. 14 (TNSPer) -- Chowan University issued the following news: Chowan University is excited to introduce Dr. Doug Lange, professor for OL 501, Leadership: Theories, Practices, and Context. Doug earned a Master of Business Administration from Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas, and his Doctor of Business Administration in Leadership from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. He is currently the Vice President of Business Affairs at Florence Darlington Tec  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 15 -- ConocoPhillips, a producer of oil and gas resources, issued the following news release on Jan. 14: ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) today announced the extension of the expiration date of the offers to eligible holders to exchange (each, an "Exchange Offer" and collectively, the "Exchange Offers") any and all outstanding notes issued by Concho Resources Inc. ("Concho") as set forth in the table below (the "Existing Concho Notes") for (1) up to $3,900,000,000 aggregate princ  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 16 -- ConocoPhillips, a producer of oil and gas resources, issued the following news release on Jan. 15: ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Concho Resources ("Concho") (NYSE: CXO) following approval by shareholders of both companies. "We appreciate the strong support for this transaction from the shareholders of both companies, which we view as further affirmation of the significant benefits it will deliver," said Ryan Lance  more

HILLSBORO, Texas, Jan. 14 (TNSGra) -- Hill College issued the following news: Hill College recently received a $112,500 Texas Reskilling Grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). The grant is specifically designed to support displaced Texas workers who need to reskill or upskill to get back into the workforce and to support students who have previously stopped out of higher education complete a postsecondary credential. Hill College identified 49 workforce credentials   more

BROWNWOOD, Texas, Jan. 14 -- Howard Payne University issued the following news: Howard Payne University recently announced the establishment of Jacket Alums in Ministry (JAM), a recognized chapter of the HPU Alumni Association designed to foster fellowship and networking opportunities among the university's alumni who serve or have served in Christian ministry. The organization's name refers to HPU's mascot, the yellow jacket. Key actions of JAM will include prayer for HPU, promoting the unive  more

NEW YORK, Jan. 15 -- iHeartMedia issued the following news release: iHeartMedia, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally, and Joel Osteen, the New York Times bestselling author and pastor in Houston, Texas, announced today that the popular "Joel Osteen Podcast" has joined the iHeartPodcast Network. The daily "Joel Osteen Podcast" features new inspirational messages every Sunday in conjunction with Osteen's weekly televised sermons, with classic sermons from the past four years airing Monday throug  more

KANSAS CITY, Missouri, Jan. 13 (TNSPer) -- Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences issued the following news: Kansas City University executive dean for the College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) and vice president for health affairs, Darrin D'Agostino, DO, MBA, MPH, will become the next provost and chief academic officer for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC). D'Agostino will assume his new role this spring. D'Agostino joined KCU in March 2017, just months before K  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 14 -- The University of Texas's MD Anderson Cancer Center issued the following news release on Jan. 13: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and UroGen Pharma Ltd. today announced a strategic three-year collaboration agreement to advance combinatorial intravesical immunotherapy, which is delivered directly into the bladder, for the treatment of high-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (HG-NMIBC). UroGen's approach involves the local delivery of potent imm  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 7 (TNSRes) -- The University of Texas's MD Anderson Cancer Center issued the following news release on Jan. 6: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Xencor, Inc. today announced a strategic research collaboration and commercialization agreement to develop novel CD3 bispecific antibody therapeutics for the potential treatment of patients with cancer. This collaboration joins Xencor's innovative XmAb(R) technology and protein engineering expertise to create b  more

ALBANY, New York, Jan. 16 -- New York Attorney General Letitia James issued the following statement on Jan. 15: * * * New York Attorney General Letitia James today released the following statement after the National Rifle Association (NRA) declared it would seek bankruptcy protections in federal court, as well as sought to reincorporate its nonprofit status in the state of Texas: "The NRA's claimed financial status has finally met its moral status: bankrupt. "While we review this filing, we  more

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Jan. 16 (TNSRes) -- Texas A&M University's College of Engineering issued the following news: We are pulled toward the Earth's surface at approximately 9.8 meters per second squared, otherwise known as acceleration due to gravity, and measured as 1G (g-force). In space, there is microgravity or 0G. As astronauts leave Earth and shoot into space and onto other planetary surfaces, their experience is unique, as they could be exposed to altered gravity somewhere between 0G a  more

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Jan. 14 -- Texas A&M University's College of Engineering issued the following news: The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) has awarded a contract to the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station as part of NCA's Veterans Legacy Program (VLP) to engage Texas A&M University students in the development of an immersive and interactive digitized national cemetery experience. "We are excited to be partnering with Texas A&M University," said Under Secretary for Memorial Aff  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Jan. 15 (TNSJou) -- The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio issued the following news release: A clinical trial involving COVID-19 patients hospitalized at UT Health San Antonio and University Health, among roughly 100 sites globally, found that a combination of the drugs baricitinib and remdesivir reduced time to recovery, according to results published Dec. 11 in the New England Journal of Medicine. Six researchers from UT Health San Antonio and Univer  more

IRVING, Texas, Jan. 16 -- Nexstar Media Group, a television broadcasting company, issued the following news release on Jan. 14: Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXST) announced today that its wholly-owned cable network, WGN America, has reached a multi-year comprehensive agreement with Vidgo, and will be carried by the live TV streaming platform beginning on January 15, 2021. In the last two months, Nexstar has reached five agreements with subscription-based streaming services for the distrib  more

BISMARCK, North Dakota, Jan. 12 -- The North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party issued the following news release: The Rule of Law Defense Fund (RLDF), a 501(c)(4) arm of the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA), was a key coalition partner in organizing the "Stop the Steal' rally on January 6. The rally, turned riot, left an indelible stain as one of the darkest days in the history of American democracy. The Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA) released a statement condemning th  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 12 (TNSJou) -- Rice University issued the following news release: Rice University scientists have extended their technique to produce graphene in a flash to tailor the properties of other 2D materials. The labs of chemist James Tour and materials theorist Boris Yakobson reported in the American Chemical Society's ACS Nano they have successfully "flashed" bulk amounts of 2D dichalcogenides, changing them from semiconductors to metallics. Such materials are valuable for ele  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 12 (TNSJou) -- Rice University issued the following news release: Rice University engineers hope to make life better for those with replacement joints by modeling how artificial hips are likely to rub them the wrong way. The computational study by the Brown School of Engineering lab of mechanical engineer Fred Higgs simulates and tracks how hips evolve, uniquely incorporating fluid dynamics and roughness of the joint surfaces as well as factors clinicians typically use to   more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 14 -- Rice University issued the following news release: As the U.S. faces one of the most turbulent and divisive moments in modern history, a Rice University political scientist is available to discuss the upcoming transfer of power from the current president, Donald Trump, to President-elect Joe Biden. "Our peaceful transfer of power, largely unique in world history, is so enshrined in our political processes it normally registers little attention and no concern," said P  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 12 (TNSJou) -- Rice University issued the following news release: An atypical two-dimensional sandwich has the tasty part on the outside for scientists and engineers developing multifunctional nanodevices. An atom-thin layer of semiconductor antimony paired with ferroelectric indium selenide would display unique properties depending on the side and polarization by an external electric field. The field could be used to stabilize indium selenide's polarization, a long-sough  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 16 (TNSPer) -- Rice University issued the following news release on Jan. 15: President-elect Joe Biden today announced his intent to nominate Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Eric Lander for director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Neal Lane, a senior fellow in science and technology policy at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, former director of the OSTP and former science adviser to President Bill Clinto  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 12 (TNSJou) -- Rice University issued the following news release: A sweet new process is making sour more practical. Rice University engineers are turning carbon monoxide directly into acetic acid -- the widely used chemical agent that gives vinegar its tang -- with a continuous catalytic reactor that can use renewable electricity efficiently to turn out a highly purified product. The electrochemical process by the labs of chemical and biomolecular engineers Haotian Wang   more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 14 (TNSJou) -- Rice University issued the following news release on Jan. 13: An intense flash of light from an erupting neutron star in a nearby galaxy in April 2020 has given astronomers their first clear look at a type of gamma-ray burst known as a magnetar giant flare and could set the stage for astronomers to observe gravitational waves from future giant flares in our galaxy. Numerous space-based instruments, including NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, measured a  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 14 (TNSJou) -- Rice University issued the following news release: Pyrolyzed plastic ash is worthless, but perhaps not for long. Rice University scientists have turned their attention to Joule heating of the material, a byproduct of plastic recycling processes. A strong jolt of energy flashes it into graphene. The technique by the lab of Rice chemist James Tour produces turbostratic graphene flakes that can be directly added to other substances like films of polyvinyl alco  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 14 (TNSRes) -- Rice University issued the following news release: Partisanship has eroded public trust in health agencies, exacerbating the spread of COVID-19, according to public health experts at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. Christopher Kulesza, research analyst for the Child Health Policy program, and Quianta Moore, fellow in child health policy at the institute, are available to discuss the issue with the news media. "Partisan division is still  more

HUNTSVILLE, Texas, Jan. 14 -- Sam Houston State University issued the following news: The latest degree program in the Department of Population Health at Sam Houston State University demonstrates the department's continual commitment in the development of degree offerings. By remaining connected to all aspects of the healthcare community through its network of industry professionals and utilizing faculty research, they have kept both courses and degree offerings relevant to the current job clim  more

BROWNWOOD, Texas, Jan. 15 -- Howard Payne University issued the following news on Jan. 14: Seven Howard Payne University students were honored at the end of the fall 2020 semester for their completion of the university's first Spanish for Medical Professionals course. Each student received a certificate recognizing his or her accomplishment. Students who completed the course were Lesly Garcia, a senior from Cleveland, Texas, majoring in criminal justice; Landon James, a senior from Bangs major  more

GEORGETOWN, Texas, Jan. 15 -- Southwestern University issued the following news: By January 11, 2021, the global infection rate of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had surged to nearly 91 million, with the death toll climbing to more than 1.94 million. In the U.S., cases topped 22.5 million, with deaths attributed to COVID-19 surpassing 375,000. The numbers reveal how a pandemic can run rampant across a planet, how governmental leadership thrives or fails, how economies run aground or remai  more

STEPHENVILLE, Texas, Jan. 14 -- Tarleton State University issued the following news release on Jan. 13: One of the fastest growing regional universities in the country and the state's sixth largest independent school district cemented an agreement Tuesday evening as a prototype to boost post-secondary education nationwide. Beginning with the 2021-22 school year, Tarleton State University will provide annual scholarships and guarantee admission to Fort Worth ISD seniors who graduate in the top   more

FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 12 -- Tarrant County College issued the following news release: Tarrant County College and Arizona State University have established a Universal Articulation Agreement to support seamless college journeys for students. The Tarrant County College MyPath2ASU(TM) transfer experience enables both institutions to work together to support academic preparedness and seamless transfer through academic alignment, term-to-term persistence and transfer outcome strategies. TCC and A  more

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Jan. 12 -- The Texas A&M University System issued the following news release on Jan. 11: FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, and the Texas A&M University System Center for Innovation in Advanced Development & Manufacturing (CIADM) today announced that production has begun in Texas on two different COVID-19 vaccine candidates with support from the U.S. government to meet Operation Warp Speed goals. FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies Texas, a subcontractor of the CIADM, rec  more

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Jan. 12 -- The Texas A&M University System issued the following news release on Jan. 11: In a single term as president, George H.W. Bush led the western world through one its most consequential periods -- the fall of the Soviet Union and the reunification of Germany that marked the peaceful end of the Cold War. As the 41st president from 1989 to 1993, Bush's deft decision-making cemented the world order for a generation. His foreign policy leadership is examined like ne  more

COMMERCE, Texas, Jan. 12 (TNSRes) -- Texas A&M University's Commerce Campus issued the following news release: A&M-Commerce Assistant Professor Alexandra Babino, Ph.D., recently published a new book, "Radicalizing Literacies and Languaging: A Framework toward Dismantling the Mono-Mainstream Assumption." Babino co-authored the book with Dr. Mary Amanda Stewart, associate professor of literacy at Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas. Babino, who serves as an assistant professor and co-coord  more

COMMERCE, Texas, Jan. 14 (TNSPer) -- Texas A&M University's Commerce Campus issued the following news release: Dr. Julia Ballenger, professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at Texas A&M University-Commerce, has been selected by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents as a 2019-2020 recipient of the Regents Professor Award. Ballenger is among a select group of system faculty nominated for the esteemed accolade. The award is the highest honor bestowed to faculty members in t  more

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Jan. 14 (TNSJou) -- Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences issued the following news release: An international team of researchers led by Dr. Leif Andersson, a professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVMBS), has found changes in gene expression patterns across the brain between wild and domestic rabbits, which likely contributed to the evolution of tameness during domestication. By demonstra  more

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Jan. 12 -- Texas A&M University's College of Engineering issued the following news: Cyberattacks are a growing threat to aerospace systems. In response to this emerging safety concern, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has identified cybersecurity as a priority area of focus. Garrett Jares, a doctoral student in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University, has joined an AIAA initiative in this area, the Aerospace Cybersecu  more

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Jan. 15 -- Texas A&M University's College of Engineering issued the following news: The idea came to Texas A&M University students Austin Burt and Jorge Arroyo one day in May after stopping at a gas station to use the restroom. Arroyo was back in Texas after being sent home from an exchange program in Ireland when the novel coronavirus took hold. The students, friends since middle school, had stopped at the gas station while driving down to the coast. Faced with touchin  more

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Jan. 15 -- Texas A&M University's College of Engineering issued the following news: Ronald Ledbetter, professor of practice and director of Subsea Engineering, began working for Texas A&M University in August of 2019. Ledbetter's credibility stems from more than 40 years of a successful career in the oil and gas industry. His experience provided him a broad and strong foundation for helping new generations learn engineering processes, specifically in subsea engineering.  more

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Jan. 16 -- Texas A&M University's College of Engineering issued the following news: Dr. Shaheen Dewji, assistant professor in Texas A&M University's Department of Nuclear Engineering, will participate in an expert panel webinar on January 21, 2021, hosted by the American Nuclear Society. The webinar, titled "Talking About Low-dose Radiation Risk," will include a panel of five experts who will discuss how to communicate the risk of low-dose radiation to the general public  more

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Jan. 15 (TNSJou) -- Texas A&M University's College of Engineering issued the following news on Jan. 14: Traffic lights at intersections are managed by simple computers that assign the right of way to the nonconflicting direction. However, studies looking at travel times in urban areas have shown that delays caused by intersections make up 12-55% of daily commute travel, which could be reduced if the operation of these controllers can be made more efficient to avoid unnec  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 14 -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued the following opinion (No. KP-0348): To: Mr. Brian K. Guthrie, Executive Director, Teacher Retirement System of Texas, 1000 Red River Street, Austin, Texas 78701-2698 Re: Application of section 552.143 of the Government Code to investment information published in a media source of general circulation (RQ-0365-KP) Dear Mr. Guthrie: You ask about the application of section 552.143 of the Government Code, the Public Information   more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 14 -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued the following news release on Jan. 13: Attorney General Ken Paxton today announced the departure of Texas Solicitor General Kyle Hawkins and the appointment of Judd Stone to fill this vital role within the Office of the Attorney General. "Kyle Hawkins fought for Texans' rights every step of the way - including arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the unconstitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. His dedication to s  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 14 -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued the following news release on Jan. 13: Attorney General Ken Paxton today issued civil investigative demands (CIDs) to Google, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon Web Services, and Apple, asking the companies for their policies and practices regarding content moderation and, more specifically, for information related to Parler, a social media application recently terminated or blocked by Google, Amazon, and Apple. For years, these Big Tec  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 16 -- The Texas Democratic Party issued the following statement: * * * Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa issued a statement following reporting that President-Elect Joe Biden will name Jamie Harrison as the new Chair of the Democratic National Committee and Texas Democratic Congressman Filemon Vela (TX-34) as a vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee: "The Texas Democratic Party congratulates Jamie Harrison on being named as the next DNC chair. Jamie i  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 14 -- The Texas Democratic Party issued the following statement by Chair Gilberto Hinojosa: * * * "From his leadership as the Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to his service on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence to his willingness to always speak truth to power, Congressman Joaquin Castro is a true Texas Democratic leader and has earned the respect of his peers as a trusted defender of our very democracy. "Congressman Castro is smart, dedicated,  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 14 -- The Texas Democratic Party issued the following statement by Chair Gilberto Hinojosa: * * * "Today, justice was served when Donald Trump, by a bipartisan vote, became the only President in U.S. history to be impeached twice. The President of the United States incited and inspired a domestic terrorist attack against the legislative body of our country. It was an assault on our Capitol, on our Constitution, and on our people. Never in our history has a more egregious cr  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 14 -- The Texas Democratic Party issued the following press document: It was one week ago, indicted Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton incited violence among right-wing terrorists gathered in Washington DC just before they stormed the Capitol building by force. Paxton is now the only state attorney general unwilling to condemn the violence that resulted in the deaths of five people, one of those being a federal police officer at the US Capitol. ICYMI: Houston Chr  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 14 -- The Texas Democratic Party issued the following press document: Ahead of Donald Trump's scheduled visit to Texas, Texas Democrats and Texans at the border hosted a zoom press conference assailing his failures at the border, danger to America, and broken promises for all Texans and Americans. To view the full zoom press conference, click here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=116812883628287 Congressman Vicente Gonzalez said the following: "After the death, destruct  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 12 -- The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation issued the following news release: The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has revoked 12 licenses and issued two cease and desist orders since November for individuals who are not authorized to perform certain licensed services in Texas, including air conditioning and refrigeration, barbering, cosmetology, electricians, massage therapy and vehicle storage facilities. Among the types of violations that would ca  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 15 -- The Texas Education Agency issued the following news release: After the cancellation of the end of school year 2019-20 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR(R)) tests due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) offered optional beginning-of-year (BOY) assessments so schools across the state could measure how well students learned the prior grade-level's knowledge and skills. With that information, schools and teachers could make adj  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 14 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release on Jan. 13: Governor Greg Abbott today announced that Brenham, having completed the multi-step certification process, has been designated as a Music Friendly Community by the Texas Music Office (TMO). The Music Friendly Community program seeks to foster music business economic development in Texas cities and communities. TMO Community Relations & Outreach Specialist Chip Adams presented the Music Friendly Com  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 15 (TNSPer) -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Ada Booth, M.D. and Walton "Boyd" Bush, Ed.D. to the Texas Medical Board District Four Review Committee for terms set to expire on January 15, 2022. Additionally, he appointed Leanne Burnett, M.D., and reappointed Philip "Phil" Worley for terms set to expire on January 15, 2024 and appointed Ruth Villarreal and Andrew "Jimmy" Widmer, M.D. for terms set to expire on  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 15 (TNSPer) -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Celeste Caballero, M.D. and Mindi McLain to the Texas Medical Board District Three Review Committee for terms set to expire on January 15, 2022. Additionally, he appointed Ogechika "Oge" Alozie, M.D., Taylor Gillig, and Gabrielle Rich, D.O. for terms set to expire on January 15, 2024 and appointed Michael Burley and Sharmila Dissanaike, M.D. for terms set to expire  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 12 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Ann-Marie Carruth as Judge of the 72nd Judicial District Court in Crosby and Lubbock Counties for a term set to expire on December 31, 2022, or until her successor shall be duly elected and qualified. Ann-Marie Carruth of Lubbock is Judge of Lubbock County Court at Law #3, and previously served as Lubbock County Justice of the Peace Precinct #4. She is a member of the St  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 12 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Governor Greg Abbott has appointed James Stainton as the District Attorney of the 271st Judicial District in Jack and Wise Counties, for a term set to expire on December 31, 2022, or until his successor shall be duly elected and qualified. James Stainton of Decatur has served as Wise County Attorney since 2009. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Texas District and County Attorneys Association.  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 12 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Vicki Fullerton and Rebecca "Becky" Vajdak and reappointed Walter F. "Ted" Nelson to the Real Estate Research Advisory Committee for terms set to expire on January 31, 2025. The committee reviews and approves proposals submitted to the board of directors of the Texas A&M University System relating to staffing and general policies of the Real Estate Center. The committee dec  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 12 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Lori I. Valenzuela to the Fourth Court of Appeals for a term set to expire on December 31, 2022, or until her successor shall be duly elected and qualified. The Fourth Court of Appeals in San Antonio serves Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Brooks, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, La Salle, Mason, Maveri  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 13 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release on Jan. 12: Governor Greg Abbott today visited the Texas House and Senate Chambers to deliver opening day remarks for the start of the 87th Texas Legislature. The Governor urged the members of the House and Senate to work together over the next 140 days to to tackle the issues that matter most to Texans across the state. "Over the next 140 days, we have the opportunity to not only respond to the challenges  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 15 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release on Jan. 14: Governor Greg Abbott today participated in a keynote discussion at the Texas Public Policy Foundation's (TPPF) Policy Orientation in Austin. Moderated by TPPF Executive Director Kevin Roberts, the Governor discussed the most pertinent policy issues facing the state of Texas. During the discussion, the Governor talked about the state's response to COVID-19, Texas' continued economic success, public  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 12 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Governor Greg Abbott has reappointed Erin Lunceford to the Board for Lease of Texas Department of Criminal Justice Lands for a term set to expire on September 1, 2021. Erin Lunceford of Houston is Counsel at Norton Rose Fulbright USA LLP. She previously served as judge of the 61st Judicial District Court in Harris County. She is board certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Spec  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 12 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Military Preparedness Commission today released a video resource for active-duty military and their spouses to increase awareness of the services offered by the State of Texas to military members and families who are about to transfer or have transferred into the state. The Military Spouse video at https://youtu.be/XxThmP-TtgU provides information on employment, education,  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 11 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release on Jan. 9: Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) has established two new COVID-19 therapeutic infusion centers in Fort Worth and Irving. The infusion centers will begin accepting patients on Monday and have been provided with Regeneron's monoclonal antibodies and bamlanivimab to treat outpatient cases of COVID-19 who meet certain criteria and who have a re  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 13 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release on Jan. 12: Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), in partnership with Travis County, the City of Austin, and the Capital Area Trauma Regional Advisory Council, has established an Alternate Care Site in Austin to expand hospital capacity in the region. Opening today at the Austin Convention Center, the facility will provide central Texas with additional   more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 15 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) today announced that that State of Texas has administered more than 1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine--making Texas the national leader in vaccinations. This milestone comes exactly one month to the day after the first doses arrived at vaccine providers in the state on December 14. According to the latest Centers for Disease  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 15 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: The Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission (THGC) is now accepting applications for the 5th Annual Dr. Anna Steinberger Outstanding Texas Educator Award. The winner of this award will receive a check for $1,000, funded by Dr. Anna Steinberger of Houston who escaped the Holocaust and served as a commissioner on the THGC. The Dr. Anna Steinberger Outstanding Texas Educator Award is annually presented to one  more

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas, Jan. 12 (TNSAwa) -- The University of Arkansas issued the following news: Bret Schulte, associate professor in the School of Journalism and Strategic Media, won first place in the 2020 Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference's manuscript competion for his book proposal, Flanagin: The Untold Tale of the World's Greatest Orphanage and America's Last Celebrity Priest. The award is given foor the most original, creative and compelling work and comes with a provisional publis  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 15 -- The University of Houston issued the following news release: The 87th Texas Legislature convenes this week, with the budget, redistricting and proposed changes to voting laws topping the agenda. Criminal justice reform and ongoing efforts to limit some actions by local governments will also draw attention. Experts from the University of Houston are available to discuss these and other topics. Jason Casellas, associate professor of political science. Casellas will be   more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 14 -- The University of Houston issued the following news release: The Supply Chain & Logistics Technology bachelor's and master's degree plans at the University of Houston are now accredited by The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), allowing students to apply for membership upon graduation and use the CILT credential after their name. This marks the first such distinction for any academic program in the United States. CILT is the oldest international tr  more

VICTORIA, Texas, Jan. 14 -- The University of Houston Victoria campus issued the following news release: Uncertainty recently became a big part of running a business, but a presentation by businesswoman and consultant Haley Robison will help area students and entrepreneurs see that uncertainty doesn't have to be a bad thing. Robison will lead a virtual workshop about how to expand career opportunities post-graduation during the next installment of Bridge to Brilliance - Building Resiliency to   more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 12 (TNSJou) -- The University of Houston issued the following news release: Lithium-ion batteries are critical for modern life, from powering our laptops and cell phones to those new holiday toys. But there is a safety risk - the batteries can catch fire. Zinc-based aqueous batteries avoid the fire hazard by using a water-based electrolyte instead of the conventional chemical solvent. However, uncontrolled dendrite growth limits their ability to provide the high performanc  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 15 -- The University of Houston issued the following news release: With COVID-19 surging across the country and more Americans expressing skepticism over the safety and effectiveness of new vaccines, University of Houston researchers are working in underserved communities to identify solutions for vaccine hesitancy, perceptions of new home-based testing and participation in vaccine clinical trials. The work is part of a coordinated outreach effort funded by the National In  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 15 -- The University of Houston issued the following news release: Two University of Houston Air Force ROTC cadets are marching toward Cougar history, on a mission to become the first members of Detachment 003 to enter directly into the United States Space Force (USSF). Lieutenants Christopher Williams and Mitchell Montalvo were competitively selected to serve in the newest branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. Williams, who graduated last month with a Bachelor of Science in ch  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 14 (TNSRes) -- The University of Houston issued the following news release: Among the primary forms of kidney disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is the most common and is marked by high circulating levels of the suPAR protein (soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor). In the past year, high serum suPAR levels have also been found to predict kidney and multiple organ failure in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. "FSGS is a particularly insid  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 13 (TNSJou) -- The University of Houston issued the following news release: Stroke survivors who had ceased to benefit from conventional rehabilitation gained clinically significant arm movement and control by using an external robotic device powered by the patients' own brains. The results of the clinical trial were described in the journal NeuroImage: Clinical. Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal, director of the Non-Invasive Brain Machine Interface Systems Laboratory at the Univ  more

DENTON, Texas, Jan. 14 -- The University of North Texas issued the following news release: University of North Texas Academic Associate Vice Provost and Academic Associate Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School and professor in the Department of Geography and the Environment Joseph Oppong was recently awarded the 2021 American Association of Geographers Ronald F. Abler Distinguished Service Honors. The award recognizes Oppong's service and commitment to the discipline of geography and geographers  more

DENTON, Texas, Jan. 12 -- The University of North Texas issued the following news release: Learning good habits at an early age can set children up for a lifetime of success, and that includes understanding the benefits of an active lifestyle, according to professors in the University of North Texas College of Education. With a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Tao Zhang and Jean Keller, faculty members in the Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreatio  more

DENTON, Texas, Jan. 12 -- The University of North Texas issued the following news release: A team of researchers at the University of North Texas developed a cloud-based computer program called RE-PLAN to help state and local public health agencies distribute the COVID-19 vaccine to ensure its timely availability according to each state's guidelines. RE-PLAN is a program that pulls data from a variety of sources to help public health agencies create response plans to use during an epidemic. Th  more

DENTON, Texas, Jan. 15 -- The University of North Texas issued the following news release: The University of North Texas Frank W. and Sue Mayborn School of Journalism has been selected to take part in NBCUniversal News Group's NBCU Academy, a new multiplatform journalism training and development program for four-year university and community college students. As one of 17 NBCU Academy partners from around the U.S., UNT's Mayborn School has received a two-year $500,000 grant for equipment upgra  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Jan. 12 -- The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio issued the following news release: By choosing to not puff away indoors, smokers deserve a thank-you for protecting their family, friends and neighbors from secondhand smoke, especially during the COVID-19 respiratory pandemic. That's why the new "Mil Gracias (A Thousand Thanks) for Not Smoking Indoors!" campaign, led by a team of experts at UT Health San Antonio, is inviting people to share gratitude f  more

GALVESTON, Texas, Jan. 12 (TNSJou) -- The University of Texas Medical Branch issued the following news release: A collaborative team from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and Pfizer has shown that the common mutation N501Y from the newly emerged SRAS-CoV-2 strains does not compromise Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. This is the first study to investigate if the fast-spreading new virus strains affects the vaccine's effectiveness. The study is currently available in bioRxiv (https:/  more

TYLER, Texas, Jan. 16 (TNSPer) -- The University of Texas's Tyler Campus issued the following news release: The University of Texas at Tyler announced this week the appointment of executive vice presidents who will lead the combined UT Tyler and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. The institutions officially merged January 4 under the leadership of President Kirk A. Calhoun, MD, FACP. Amir Mirmiran, PhD, has been named provost and executive vice president for academic affai  more

ARLINGTON, Texas, Jan. 14 (TNSGra) -- The University of Texas Arlington campus issued the following news release: A civil engineering associate professor at The University of Texas at Arlington has received a pair of grants focused on detecting and repairing natural gas leaks in underground pipelines. For the first, Kathleen Smits is collaborating with Colorado State University on a two-and-a-half-year, $364,657 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Material  more

ARLINGTON, Texas, Jan. 13 (TNSRes) -- The University of Texas Arlington campus issued the following news release on Jan. 12: A modern languages faculty member at The University of Texas at Arlington has written an interpretive history of the Russian Revolution and the literary tradition that fostered it, as well as the writers who reacted to and resisted it. In his new book, Language and Metaphors of the Russian Revolution: Sow the Wind, Reap the Storm, Lonny Harrison, associate professor of R  more

ARLINGTON, Texas, Jan. 12 (TNSGra) -- The University of Texas Arlington campus issued the following news release: David Wetz, professor of electrical engineering at The University of Texas at Arlington, has received a $424,618 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) grant from the Office of Naval Research to purchase equipment for studying materials at high voltages. The equipment will be used in support of a grant he received in August from the Naval Surface War Center-Dah  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 13 -- The University of Texas issued the following news release: There is a new look coming to the Blanton Museum of Art at The University of Texas at Austin. The comprehensive grounds redesign will unify and revitalize the museum campus, which is approximately 200,000 square feet and contains two buildings and Ellsworth Kelly's "Austin," through architectural and landscape improvements. The project is led by international design firm Snohetta and will feature the first majo  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 14 (TNSJou) -- The University of Texas issued the following news release: Fear in response to COVID-19 causes people to think more rigidly and makes it harder for them to recognize misinformation and more likely to spread it, according to new research published this week in the journal Frontiers in Communication. In the binational study conducted during the early months of the pandemic, researchers examined the influence of fear of COVID-19 on several social and cognitive f  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 8 (TNSRes) -- The University of Texas's MD Anderson Cancer Center issued the following news release on Jan. 7: In a study to examine a Mediterranean diet in relation to prostate cancer progression in men on active surveillance, researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that men with localized prostate cancer who reported a baseline dietary pattern that more closely follows the key principles of a Mediterranean-style diet fared better over the   more

PLAINVIEW, Texas, Jan. 15 -- Wayland Baptist University issued the following news release: Dr. Estelle Owens, a 1971 graduate, will be honored as a Distinguished Benefactor by Wayland Baptist University during its spring Homecoming celebration. While the weekend is mostly a virtual affair, the awards presentation will premiere online on Friday, Feb. 19, when it would traditionally have been offered. Owens earned her bachelor's degree in history in 1971 with honors, then continued her education  more

PLAINVIEW, Texas, Jan. 16 -- Wayland Baptist University issued the following news release: Dr. Joel O'Hair, a 2006 graduate, will be honored as a Distinguished Alumnus by Wayland Baptist University during its spring Homecoming celebration. While the weekend is mostly a virtual affair, the awards presentation will premiere online on Friday, Feb. 19, when it would traditionally have been offered. In addition, O'Hair will be the guest lecturer for the School of Mathematics and Sciences, with his   more

PLAINVIEW, Texas, Jan. 15 -- Wayland Baptist University issued the following news release: Paul Harkey, a 2003 graduate, will be honored as a Distinguished Alumnus by Wayland Baptist University during its spring Homecoming celebration. While the weekend is mostly a virtual affair, the awards presentation will premiere online on Friday, Feb. 19, when it would traditionally have been offered. A native of Petersburg, Texas, who graduated from Plainview High School, Harkey is the bass singer for E  more

PLAINVIEW, Texas, Jan. 16 -- Wayland Baptist University issued the following news release: Joe Lombard, a 1975 graduate, will be honored as a Distinguished Alumnus by Wayland Baptist University during its spring Homecoming celebration. While the weekend is mostly a virtual affair, the awards presentation will premiere online on Friday, Feb. 19, when it would traditionally have been offered. Lombard is a legend in Texas high school sports circles, retiring in 2020 after a 42-year girls' basketb  more

PLAINVIEW, Texas, Jan. 15 -- Wayland Baptist University issued the following news release on Jan. 14: Dr. Mike Davis, a 1987 graduate with honors, will be honored as a Distinguished Alumnus by Wayland Baptist University during its spring Homecoming celebration. While the weekend is mostly a virtual affair, the awards presentation will premiere online on Friday, Feb. 19, when it would traditionally have been offered. Davis earned a degree in philosophy at Wayland, then completed a master's degr  more

PLAINVIEW, Texas, Jan. 15 -- Wayland Baptist University issued the following news release: Have you ever wondered how many different ways there are to count music in a measure? Or what is a conductor trying to communicate with every motion he makes? The School of Music is starting a new venture in an attempt to answer these questions and many more. "Music in Minutes" will debut on Tuesday, Jan. 19, with the first mini music lesson being released on social media. The idea is to bring music to th  more

PLAINVIEW, Texas, Jan. 14 (TNSPer) -- Wayland Baptist University issued the following news release: A familiar face is returning to Wayland Baptist University this spring to fill the position of Executive Director of Students Services. Shawn Thomas, a 1995 graduate, takes over for Brad Miles who left the university to pursue a full-time pastorate with First Baptist Church in Shallowater. Thomas graduated with a double major in religion and psychology. He earned a Master's of Business Administr  more