ATHENS, Greece, March 25 -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio issued the following statement: * * * ACLU of Ohio sent a letter to Ohio University Provost Elizabeth Sayrs and Dean Florenz Plassmann expressing our "serious concerns" about the potential defunding of Ohio University's Center for Law, Justice, and Culture. The following statement can be attributed to J. Bennett Guess, Executive Director of the ACLU of Ohio: "Since CLJC's inception, the ACLU of Ohio has been a close partn  more

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R46384) on March 25, 2021, entitled "Energy and Water Development: FY2021 Appropriations" by energy policy specialist Mark Holt and energy policy analyst Corrie E. Clark: The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies appropriations bill provides funding for civil works projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE); the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and Ce  more

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R46384) on March 25, 2021, entitled "Energy and Water Development: FY2021 Appropriations": (Continued from Part 1 of 2) Cleanup of Former Nuclear Sites: Proposed Reductions and Transfers DOE's Office of Environmental Management (EM) is responsible for environmental cleanup and waste management at the department's nuclear facilities. The $6.066 billion request for EM activities for FY2021 would have bee  more

JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, March 27 (TNSJou) -- East Tennessee State University issued the following news: Dr. Mildred F. (Mimi) Perreault of East Tennessee State University is the coauthor of an article examining how journalists approached coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was recently published in American Behavioral Scientist. "Journalists doing journalism during COVID experience a high level of personal responsibility to provide information to the public because it could save lives,"   more

WASHINGTON, March 26 (TNSRep) -- The Environmental Defense Fund issued the following news release: A new report from Resources for the Future and Environmental Defense Fund demonstrates how federal lawmakers can deploy a suite of policies to tackle the energy transition challenges facing fossil fuel workers and communities across the country. The report summarizes lessons from over 100 federal policies into four primary categories of solutions: workforce development and labor standards; econom  more

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Earthjustice issued the following news release on March 23, 2021: Leading environmental justice and national environmental groups today urged Congress to advance a major economic recovery package that addresses climate change, environmental injustice, and air and water pollution while also creating jobs in vulnerable communities hardest hit by Covid-19, racial violence, economic inequality and the climate crisis. In a letter to Congress written by the co-authors of the   more

FRANKFORT, Kentucky, March 24 -- Rep. Harold Rogers, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release: Gov. Andy Beshear and U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers (KY-05) on Monday announced six economic development projects in five Appalachian counties have been selected for $14.2 million in Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) Pilot Program grants. The projects, in Floyd, Harlan, Laurel, Morgan and Perry counties, range from the construction of water treatment plants to robotic instruction and will revitalize th  more

FRANKFORT, Kentucky, March 27 -- Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Kentucky, issued the following news: Gov. Andy Beshear has made the following appointments to Kentucky boards and commissions: Gov. Beshear has appointed Crystal Wilkinson as the Kentucky State Poet Laureate. * Crystal Wilkinson of Lexington is an English professor at the University of Kentucky. She replaces Jeff Worley, whose term has expired. Ms. Wilkinson shall serve for a term expiring March 27, 2023. Gov. Beshear has appointed Blanch  more

FRANKFORT, Kentucky, March 23 -- Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Kentucky, issued the following news: Gov. Andy Beshear and U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers (KY-05) on Monday announced six economic development projects in five Appalachian counties have been selected for $14.2 million in Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) Pilot Program grants. The projects, in Floyd, Harlan, Laurel, Morgan and Perry counties, range from the construction of water treatment plants to robotic instruction and will revitalize the coalfie  more

FRANKFORT, Kentucky, March 23 -- Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Kentucky, issued the following news: On Monday, Gov. Andy Beshear announced the state's lowest positivity rate since July 3, 2020, and updated Kentuckians on COVID-19 vaccinations. "We've come too far and we've lost too much to mess this up now. So please continue to wear your masks until we get everybody vaccinated," said Gov. Beshear. "And if you're thinking about not taking the vaccine, think harder. Think about all the individuals you c  more

WILMORE, Kentucky, March 26 (TNSpar) -- Asbury University issued the following news: The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has approved Asbury University (AU) for Division III provisional membership, beginning September 1, 2021. "This announcement is the culmination of a thorough review to determine the best missional fit for our intercollegiate athletics program," said Asbury's president Dr. Kevin J. Brown. "The process involved the president's cabinet, the board of trustees, th  more

NEW YORK, March 24 -- The Open Space Institute issued the following news release: Land protection is among the most effective, versatile, and cost-saving tools available to address climate change and maintain clean water. OSI translates scientific research into practical guidance to help land trusts and communities conserve lands that store and absorb atmospheric carbon, buffer the impacts of storms on flood-prone communities, and safeguard water quality. In a slate of virtual presentations th  more

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The White House issued the following news release on March 26, 2021: President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Seema Nanda for Solicitor of the Department of Labor, Victoria Wassmer for Assistant Secretary at Budget and Programs and Chief Financial Officer at the Department of Transportation, Maryanne Donaghy for Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Ronald Davis for Director of the United St  more

AMSTERDAM, New York, March 24 -- Rep. Paul D. Tonko, D-New York, issued the following news release: Congressman Paul D. Tonko teamed up with more than 50 members in the House in a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to immediately remove and replace the six current members of the Postal Service Board of Governors. "Under the tenure of this Board of Governors, the Postal Service was blatantly misused by President Trump in an unsuccessful gambit to influence a presidential election, the Pos  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 (TNSRep) -- Resources for the Future issued the following news release: A new report from Resources for the Future and Environmental Defense Fund demonstrates how federal lawmakers can deploy a suite of policies to tackle the energy transition challenges facing fossil fuel workers and communities across the country. The report summarizes lessons from over 100 federal policies into four primary categories of solutions: workforce development and labor standards; economic dev  more

NEW YORK, March 24 -- The Risk and Insurance Management Society issued the following news release: RIMS, the risk management society(R), selected eight universities to compete during RIMS LIVE 2021 for the 2021 Spencer-RIMS Risk Management Challenge top honor. Twenty university teams entered the competition. Based on the solutions they developed for a risk management civic case-study developed by RIMS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council, the top teams have been invited to present t  more

HUNTINGTON, West Virginia, March 27 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release on March 26, 2021: U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today attended the groundbreaking of the Aviation Maintenance Technology program within Marshall University at the Huntington Tri-State Airport. The Marshall Aviation Maintenance Technology program will help address pilot shortages, introduce new career paths to the region, and help grow the aerospace industry in West  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on March 25, 2021: U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) today introduced the Save Rural Hospitals Act of 2021 to fix a flawed formula that results in disproportionately low Medicare payments for hospitals in rural and low-wage areas. The bill would provide additional financial support for rural hospitals that are alread  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release on March 22, 2021: U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and U.S. Congressman James Comer (KY-01) announced today the Russell County Industrial Development Authority received a $1,854,972 competitive federal grant to build a new agribusiness training facility. The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded funding to support the construction of   more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on March 25, 2021: U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) today introduced the Save Rural Hospitals Act of 2021 to fix a flawed formula that results in disproportionately low Medicare payments for hospitals in rural and low-wage areas. The bill would provide additional financial support for rural hospitals that are alre  more

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release on March 22, 2021: U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and U.S. Congressman James Comer (KY-01) announced today the Russell County Industrial Development Authority received a $1,854,972 competitive federal grant to build a new agribusiness training facility. The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded funding to suppor  more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee issued the following testimony by Douglas Hooker, executive director at Atlanta Regional Commission, as part of a hybrid hearing entitled "Driving the Road to Recovery: Rebuilding America's Transportation Infrastructure" on March 24, 2021: * * * Thank you for inviting me here to discuss the Atlanta Regional Commission's perspectives on the current challenges in developing our transportation infrastructure at the   more

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release on March 26, 2021: U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) today reintroduced the Forest Incentives Program Act to help landowners make forest management more affordable, and provide them with sustainable options to preserve their land. With financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), private forest owners would be encouraged to employ   more

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) reintroduced the Forest Incentives Program Act with Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) to help landowners make forest management more affordable and provide them with sustainable options to preserve their land. With financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), private forest owners would be encouraged to employ environmentally-conscious for  more

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, March 23 -- The Stockholm Environment Institute issued the following news release: New gas field developments in Appalachia are unlikely to be profitable as the US energy system undergoes rapid decarbonization, according to a report from the Stockholm Environment Institute's US Center (SEI) and the Ohio River Valley Institute. Rosy industry projections of a gas-fueled petrochemical buildout led many Appalachian communities to bank on job growth that never arrived and now may   more

TRIANGLE, Virginia, March 27 (TNSper) -- The United Mine Workers of America issued the following statement on March 26, 2021: * * * Commenting the appointment by President Biden of Gayle Manchin to co-chair the Appalachian Regional Commission, United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today: "I applaud President Biden for his appointment of Gayle Manchin to be co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission. She is the perfec  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, March 27 (TNSper) -- Gov. Ralph S. Northam, R-Virginia, issued the following statement on March 26, 2021: * * * Governor Ralph Northam issued the following statement today after President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Gayle Conelly Manchin for Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). In February, Appalachia's 13 governors elected Governor Northam to serve as ARC's States' Co-Chair for 2021. "President Biden has made an exceptional choice  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, March 15 -- The Virginia State Corporation Commission issued the following news release: The State Corporation Commission (SCC) is offering time for members of the public to give oral comments by telephone on a request by Appalachian Power Company (APCo) to increase a rate adjustment clause that covers transmission costs. Appalachian Power is proposing to increase its Transmission Rate Adjustment Clause (T-RAC) from $225.1 million to $337.7 million, an increase of $112.6 mi  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, March 27 (TNSRes) -- The West Virginia Coal Association issued the following news: West Virginia coal production slipped again week over week by -4.17%, declining by -3.6% in the NAPP region of the state and by -4.81% in the state's CAPP region. National coal production also declined from the previous week by -6.7%: -6.6% in the Appalachian region, -7.13% in the Interior region and -6.62% in the Western region. Production from the entire NAPP thermal region declined b  more