WASHINGTON, July 16 -- The Appalachian Regional Commission issued the following news release: The Appalachian Regional Commission is proud to announce that 38 fellows graduated from the Appalachian Leadership Institute, a leadership and economic development program sponsored by the Appalachian Regional Commission. Members of the Class of 2021, along with their friends and family, attended the ceremony--24 in-person in Washington, DC, and 14 virtually. "We congratulate the 2021 class of Appalac  more

CUMBERLAND, Maryland, July 16 -- The Allegany County Public School District issued the following news on July 15, 2021: Four ACPS Community School Coordinators had the opportunity to give a presentation to more than 100 educators from across the state at the recent 2021 Maryland Community Schools Summer Conference, which was virtually hosted by the Maryland State Department of Education. This year's theme was "Leading for Change: Community Schools and the Road Ahead." Jayne Lechliter, John Humb  more

WASHINGTON, July 13 -- The Appalachian Regional Commission issued the following news release: The Appalachian Regional Commission invites proposals from organizations within the Appalachian Region, including non-profits, institutions of higher education, and other stakeholders, to work in partnership with ARC on the programming, curriculum development, and execution for the Appalachian Entrepreneurship Academy (AEA). AEA helps high school students in the Appalachian Region strengthen their busi  more

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- The Congressional Budget Office issued the following cost estimate for the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act (S. 1931): * * * Bill Summary S. 1931 would provide budget authority over the 2022-2026 period for the Department of Transportation (DOT) to continue operating the Federal-Aid Highway Program, which is funded from the Highway Trust Fund. The bill also would authorize the appropriation of funds for certain other transportation programs administered by DOT  more

JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, July 13 (TNSPer) -- East Tennessee State University issued the following news on July 12, 2021: Bluegrass, Old-Time and Country Music Studies and the Department of Appalachian Studies at East Tennessee State University announce two new artists in residence for the 2021-2022 academic year: Brittany Haas and Mike Compton. Haas is widely regarded as one of the most influential fiddlers of her generation. She grew up in Northern California, honing her craft at string camps  more

WASHINGTON, July 14 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release: Debuting this November in the Smithsonian's groundbreaking 'FUTURES' exhibition at the historic Arts and Industries Building, a new series of commissioned short films will spotlight the extraordinary ways diverse communities across the U.S. are shaping their own more hopeful futures. Blending documentary, social activism, music, and poetry, "Futures We Dream" will feature new works by nine award-winning indepe  more

OAK RIDGE, Tennessee, July 14 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education issued the following news release: Teachers from the Appalachian Regional Commission/Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ARC/ORNL) Summer STEM Program spent time in a virtual format at REAC/TS' Cytogenetic Biodosimetry Lab (CBL) from June 21 to July 2, 2021. During this time, they learned about various methods of biodosimetry, radiation emergency medicine, and the response capabilities prov  more

WASHINGTON, July 13 -- Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Connecticut, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release on July 12, 2021: The House Appropriations Committee today released the draft fiscal year 2022 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies funding bill, which will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow. The legislation funds agencies and programs in the Department of Energy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and several independent  more

WASHINGTON, July 13 -- Rep. Brian Higgins, D-New York, issued the following news release on July 12, 2021: Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) announced introduction of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission Reauthorization Act of 2021. This legislation, led by Rep. Paul Tonko (NY-20) and cosponsored by Congressman Higgins, would ensure lasting protections and financial backing to the Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor for the next 15 years. "The Erie Canal played a major rol  more

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) announced he introduced legislation that aims to provide affordable housing opportunities and investment to communities that have endured longstanding disinvestment. The Restoring Communities Left Behind Act would create a $5 billion program at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to award competitive grants to eligible local partnerships to carry out neighborhoo  more

PORTSMOUTH, Ohio, July 16 (TNSPer) -- Shawnee State University issued the following news: Dr. Brenda Haas was recently sworn in as the newest Trustee on the Shawnee State University Board of Trustees. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine appointed Dr. Haas to the board in April 2021. "I appreciate the opportunity to be supportive of the university as it continues the growth of educational opportunities for the region," said Dr. Haas. "Shawnee State provides support for all students having equitable acces  more

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, July 16 (TNSPol) -- The Southern Environmental Law Center issued the following statement on July 15, 2021: * * * Today the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond issued an opinion rejecting to the Virginia Manufacturers Association's 2020 challenge to Virginia's cap-and-trade program. In response to the decision, SELC Senior Attorney Nate Benforado released the following statement. "Virginia's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is already working  more

AUSTIN, Texas, July 13 -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued the following news release on July 12, 2021: Attorney General Ken Paxton joined a multistate coalition demanding protection of students from the Biden Administration's unlawful expansion of the Supreme Court's 2020 decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, GA. The Bostock holding, although questionable, was limited to a Title VII employment-discrimination context, but the Department of Education is now trying to broadly apply Bos  more

STARKVILLE, Mississippi, July 17 (TNSPer) -- Mississippi State University issued the following news: Mississippi State Professor Robert M. West adds interim department head for the Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures to his leadership positions on campus. A faculty member in the English department since 2002, West was instrumental in MSU's 2019 installation of a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest academic honors organization in the United States. He is currently the  more

BLACKSBURG, Virginia, July 16 (TNSRes) -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: On a remote corner of campus, in tanks and constructed ponds bubbling with fresh water, an unusual life cycle is taking place. At Virginia Tech's Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Center, the process begins when female adult mussels release strings of larvae, called glochidia, into the water. Designed by evolution to lure fish closer by looking like food, these packets of larval mussels attach themselves to the gi  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, July 13 -- Gov. Jim Justice, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release: Gov. Jim Justice, in partnership with the West Virginia Department of Tourism, today launched the West Virginia Chef Ambassador Program. The program will showcase talented chefs across the Mountain State to promote West Virginia's culinary innovation, farm-to-table experiences, and growing agritourism industry. Nominations are now open for this year's inaugural class of chef ambassadors  more

CULLOWHEE, North Carolina, July 14 (TNSEve) -- Western Carolina University issued the following news release: Mountain Heritage Center, a museum of Appalachian culture at Western Carolina University, will hold a crafts demonstration and music performance on campus Wednesday, July 21. The 1-3 p.m. event will be held on the lawn between the Forsyth and Killian Annex buildings, in the style of Mountain Heritage Day, the university's popular fall community festival. And like Mountain Heritage Day  more