ORONO, Maine, Jan. 21 -- The University of Maine System issued the following news release: The Trustees of the Davis Educational Foundation recently awarded a $297,000 grant to the University of Maine System over two years that will be used to fund the development and implementation of interdisciplinary Statewide Strategic Program Plans involving academic programs offered jointly or in coordination by multiple UMS universities. The first two statewide strategic plans will involve the faculty an  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Jan. 21 (TNSJou) -- The University of Illinois Chicago campus issued the following news release: University of Illinois Chicago is one of the U.S. sites participating in clinical trials to cure severe red blood congenital diseases such as sickle cell anemia or Thalassemia by safely modifying the DNA of patients' blood cells. The first cases treated with this approach were recently published in an article co-authored by Dr. Damiano Rondelli, the Michael Reese Professor of Hem  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 -- The Defenders of Wildlife issued the following news on Jan. 20: On his first day in the White House, President Joe Biden plans to sign 15 executive orders today covering the pandemic, economic relief, immigration, climate change and racial equity. Some of the actions will reverse harmful environmental decisions made by the Trump administration. Rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement As a top priority for the administration, Biden has pledged to rejoin the Paris climate   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 -- Environment America issued the following news release on Jan. 20: President Joe Biden has wasted no time in following through on several campaign promises related to protecting the environment and addressing climate change. Among the actions he will take either Wednesday or within the week: require the United States to rejoin the Paris Agreement; cancel the Keystone XL pipeline permit; ban new oil and gas permitting on public lands, including the Arctic National Wildlif  more

ROCHESTER, Minnesota, Jan. 21 (TNSJou) -- Mayo Clinic issued the following news release: A new multi-institution study led by Fergus Couch, Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic pathologist, provides more accurate estimates of breast cancer risk for U.S. women who harbor inherited mutations in breast cancer predisposition genes. The findings of the CARRIERS Consortium study, which were published Wednesday, Jan. 20 in The New England Journal of Medicine, may allow health care providers to better assess the risk   more

WESTBOROUGH, Massachusetts, Jan. 21 -- The New England First Amendment Coalition issued the following news release: The New England First Amendment Coalition recently testified on proposed legislation in New Hampshire that could severely limit the public's right to access police records. Senate Bill 39 intends to exempt police personnel files, internal investigations and other law enforcement records from the New Hampshire Right-to-Know Law. If made law, the bill would overturn a New Hampshir  more

WESTBOROUGH, Massachusetts, Jan. 21 -- The New England First Amendment Coalition issued the following news release: The New England First Amendment Coalition is calling on Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo to resume full press briefings and allow direct questioning from journalists. The governor has not made herself available for questioning from journalists since being nominated last month for Commerce Secretary in President-Elect Joseph Biden's Administration. "While your nomination to Presid  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 -- The U.S. Public Interest Research Group issued the following news release on Jan. 20: President Joe Biden has wasted no time in following through on several campaign promises related to protecting the environment and addressing climate change. Among the actions he will take either Wednesday or within the week: require the United States to rejoin the Paris Agreement; cancel the Keystone XL pipeline permit; ban new oil and gas permitting on public lands, including the Arc  more

OAKLAND, California, Jan. 21 -- The Sierra Club issued the following news release: On its first official day, the Biden administration rolled out an executive order to undo several environmental and public health rollbacks issued under Trump. In the order, the Biden administration stated it will review the rollback of protections for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments in Utah and Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument off the coast of New England-- pla  more

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Jan. 21 -- TESOL International Association issued the following news release on Jan. 20: * * * In a statement published today in the New York Times, TESOL International Association joined more than 180 organizations, associations, companies, and leaders came together to call for bipartisan leadership to overhaul of an outdated immigration system, prioritizing a pathway to citizenship for "Dreamers" brought to the United States as children. The signatories represent a bro  more

AMHERST, Massachusetts, Jan. 21 -- The University of Massachusetts-Amherst issued the following news: This spring the UMass Fine Arts Center takes full advantage of the virtual world to engage and inspire audiences with over 40 online events featuring renowned artists like visual artist Alison Saar and the South African choral icons Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Audiences can witness musicians from around the world perform in the newest configuration of the Silkroad Ensemble and enjoy the return of   more

BIDDEFORD, Maine, Jan. 21 -- The University of New England issued the following news release: The increasing gap between the top one percent and middle classes in many Western nations has created the basis for many of the world's recent political developments. As China's emergence has reshuffled economies around the world, we have witnessed glimpses, in real time, of how rising inequality may destabilize our world for years to come. An online lecture presented by the University of New England   more

BIDDEFORD, Maine, Jan. 21 -- The University of New England issued the following news release: Some people are more comfortable writing things down, while others would rather rely on technology. Jennifer Stiegler-Balfour, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, recently discussed with the Bangor Daily News the benefits and drawbacks of paper planners as compared to digital calendars. While digital calendars may be convenient, there are neurological benefits to writing things down by hand. "  more

UNIVERSITY CITY, Pennsylvania, Jan. 21 (TNSJou) -- The University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine issued the following news release on Jan. 20: Several genetic mutations previously linked to breast cancer and included on commercial genetic tests, including direct-to-consumer tests, were found not to increase a woman's risk of disease, according to a population study of more than 64,000 women published online today in the New England Journal of Medicine from several institutions, i  more