CULLOWHEE, North Carolina, Aug. 28 (TNSPer) -- The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching issued the following news: An accomplished educator with deep roots in North Carolina has joined the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) faculty. Dr. Mandy Taylor has been named Senior Content Specialist. Taylor joins the NCCAT faculty, which served all school districts in North Carolina last year. NCCAT provides teachers with new knowledge, skills, teaching method  more

JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, Aug. 27 (TNSPer) -- East Tennessee State University issued the following news: Crown Laboratories Chief Science Officer Dr. Thomas Hitchcock and Director of Biological Science Dr. Mun Su Rhee have been appointed as adjunct faculty members in the East Tennessee State University Department of Biomedical Sciences. The skin care company scientists join the university as part of a collaboration to foster research activity. The appointments into the department will provide o  more

MONTGOMERY, Alabama, Aug. 28 -- The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs issued the following news release: The city of Tuskegee has been awarded a $384,000 grant to improve a city service and help resolve a potential health hazard for residents, Gov. Kay Ivey announced. The Appalachian Regional Commission grant will assist the city in its ongoing efforts to improve sewer service. The project will help prevent sewer overflows and backups while aiding the city's utilities board   more

BOONE, North Carolina, Aug. 26 (TNSPol) -- Appalachian Voices issued the following news release on Aug. 25, 2021: The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) today released a draft decision on a request for a water quality certification for the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP). This certification request is made under section 401 of the Clean Water Act and a certification is required before the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may issue a permit for MVP to cut and blast through hundreds of  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (TNSRep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R46471) on Aug. 24, 2021, entitled "Federally Supported Projects and Programs for Wastewater, Drinking Water, and Water Supply Infrastructure". The report was written by environmental policy specialist Jonathan L. Ramseur, environmental policy analyst Elena H. Humphreys, agricultural policy analyst Lisa S. Benson, economic development policy analysts Joseph V. Jaroscak and Julie M. Lawhorn, natur  more

JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, Aug. 25 (TNSBook) -- East Tennessee State University issued the following news: Video gaming played competitively, or eSports, has grown in such popularity that universities, including ETSU, have established their own teams to compete against similar lineups at peer educational institutions. eSports is also piquing the interests of university researchers and those in marketing and communication. That is why Dr. Mimi Perreault, an associate professor in the Department o  more

JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, Aug. 26 -- East Tennessee State University issued the following news: A six-part podcast series, "Sepia Tones: Exploring Black Appalachian Music," is in the works, co-hosted by Dr. Ted Olson, an East Tennessee State University professor of Appalachian Studies and Bluegrass, Old-Time and Country Music Studies, and Dr. William Turner, a noted scholar on African American communities in Appalachia. The first two episodes are now available on all popular podcast streaming p  more

MORGES, Switzerland, Aug. 25 -- Environmental Conservation, a journal that says it addresses environmental policy, practice and natural and social science of environmental concern at the global level from the Foundation for Environmental Conservation, published research articles on the following topics in its September 2021 edition: Thematic Section: Biodiversity Revisited: * Spatial conservation prioritization considering socioeconomic costs and degradation conditions in the Southwest China   more

NEW YORK, Aug. 27 (TNSOps) -- The Episcopal Relief and Development issued the following news release: Episcopal Relief & Development is continuing to support partners in the United States and around the world in providing targeted assistance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization is partnering with local organizations in Brazil, Sri Lanka and Tanzania on additional emergency responses to support the most vulnerable populations. These international projects are supported primari  more

FRANKFORT, Kentucky, Aug. 25 -- Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Kentucky, issued the following news: Gov. Andy Beshear, joined by his senior advisor, Rocky Adkins, transportation officials, state legislators and local leaders, said work on the Mountain Parkway Expansion has reached a major milestone with half of the construction segments now complete. Gov. Beshear celebrated the expansion's impact on Eastern Kentucky as he officially opened eight more miles of the parkway between mile marker 57, near Hel  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Aug. 28 -- The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs issued the following news release: The Baker-Polito Administration today announced more than $2 million in grant funding to protect critical landscapes and local drinking water supply in nine communities across the Commonwealth. The funding, awarded through the Administration's Landscape Partnership and Drinking Water Supply Protection (DWSP) Grant Programs, will increase climate resilience   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 (TNSGra) -- The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation issued the following news release on Aug. 23, 2021: The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced more than $1.2 million in grants to restore and sustain healthy forests and rivers that provide habitat for diverse bird populations, as well as freshwater and diadromous fish populations, in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. The grants will leverage more than $3.1 million in matching grantee  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 -- Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release on Aug. 27, 2021: Representative Virginia Foxx (R-NC) announced the additions of Grayson Farmer as her newest Constituent Liaison in Boone, and Hannah S. Cooke as her Executive Assistant in Washington, D.C.: "I am incredibly proud to welcome both Hannah and Grayson to my team. Their commitment to public service, and to the citizens of North Carolina's Fifth District, will leave an indelible mark for   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 -- Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Virginia, issued the following statement: * * * The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) today awarded a $267,500 grant for waterline replacement in Dickenson County. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement. "Today's award of $267,500 will support a major upgrade to the water systems in Dickenson County. "Water infrastructure is crucial for the communities in the Ninth District, and I am pleased to see these funds a  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 -- Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Virginia, issued the following statement: * * * The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) awarded $50,000 to the Montgomery Museum of Art and History, in Christiansburg, Virginia. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement. "ARC's award of $50,000 to the Montgomery Museum of Art and History will be used to plan the museum's expansion and upgrades. "I am pleased to see this money help the museum achieve their goal of becomi  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 -- Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Virginia, issued the following statement: * * * The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) today awarded $500,000 to the town of Pulaski for the adaptive reuse of the historic Calfee Training School. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement. "This grant of $500,000 will help support the reconstruction and repurposing of the historic Calfee Training School. "The completion of this project will provide space for a variety o  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 -- Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Virginia, issued the following statement: * * * The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) today announced a $51,592 grant to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University for Phase One of the Critz, Virginia Community Enhancement Project. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement. "I am pleased that this grant of $51,592 will serve as seed money for the planning and development of the proposed community center in C  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 -- Rep. Joseph Neguse, D-Colorado, issued the following news release on Aug. 27, 2021: Congressman Joe Neguse, Chair of the U.S. Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, unveiled the Continental Divide Trail Completion Act. The legislation, which is also supported by Congresswoman Teresa Leger-Fernandez, would direct the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to work together to finish the 3,100-mile Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (C  more

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio, Aug. 25 -- Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, issued the following news release: Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) announces $250,000 to Mercy Health Youngstown to upgrade existing outdated MRI equipment at Mercy Health - St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital to enable the hospital to provide a higher quality of care to residents of Mahoning, Trumbull, and Columbiana counties. These funds will create three new jobs. "St. Elizabeth's Hospital and our frontline healthcare workers are second to none  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Aug. 27 -- The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond issued the following article on Aug. 26, 2021, by Tiffany Hollin-Wright and Surekha Carpenter: This post is part of our new Rural Spotlight series, where we explore solutions to the economic challenges faced by rural communities in the Fifth District. Introduction Community development financial institutions (CDFIs), including loan funds, banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions, share an institutional mission t  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following news release on Aug. 24, 2021: U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded a $250,000 grant to the Village of Frankfort for improvements to its sewage collection system and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The funds will be used to repair 5,633 linear feet of sewer line, update equipment at two lift stations, and replace several pieces of equipment at the wastewat  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following news release on Aug. 24, 2021: U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded a $250,000 grant to the city of East Liverpool for improvements to the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The funds will be used to upgrade and rehabilitate the wastewater treatment plant to provide better service to the 734 businesses and 4,780 households who rely on the plant. "Strong wate  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following news release on Aug. 24, 2021: U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded a $250,000 grant to Mercy Health to upgrade existing MRI equipment at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown. "Communities across Ohio face a heavy burden when financing infrastructure projects, including health care facilities," Brown said. "This project will bring important health care resou  more

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire, Aug. 26 -- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, issued the following news release on Aug. 25, 2021: This afternoon, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) visited Berlin's Infiltration and Inflow Reduction Project amid its construction and highlighted how the historic bipartisan infrastructure deal that cleared the Senate earlier this month would support critical projects like this throughout New Hampshire. Shaheen was a key negotiator around provisions on water infrastr  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Aug. 24 (TNSPol) -- The Sierra Club issued the following news release on Aug. 23, 2021: The State Corporation Commission of Virginia released its final order in the Appalachian Power Company (APCo) rate case. The Commission denied Effluent Limitations Guidelines (ELG) costs for both the John E. Amos and Mountaineer coal plants, both are West Virginia power plants that provide power to Virginia. The SCC concluded that APCo failed to show that the ELG investments were reasona  more

HUNTINGTON, West Virginia, Aug. 25 (TNSPol) -- The Sierra Club issued the following news release on Aug. 24, 2021: Yesterday, responding to continuing pressure from community groups, the U.S. Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation, and Enforcement (OSMRE) announced its formal determination that West Virginia is violating the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) by failing to ensure that funds will be available to reclaim coal mines in the state. The agency's decision comes   more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Aug. 24 -- The Virginia State Corporation Commission issued the following news release on Aug. 23, 2021: The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) has approved in part and denied in part an environmental rate adjustment clause (E-RAC or rider). The rider recovers environmental compliance expenses associated with federal rules regulating the disposal of coal ash at two of the company's power plants located in West Virginia. These power plants, the Amos and Mountaineer   more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Aug. 28 -- Gov. Jim Justice, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release on Aug. 27, 2021: Gov. Jim Justice held a ceremony today to announce over $15.5 million in Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant recommendations and federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for a combined total of 23 projects across West Virginia. "It's always a fun day when you're able to give some money away for some great projects," Gov. Justice said. "I'm really pr  more