JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, Oct. 2 (TNSPer) -- East Tennessee State University issued the following news on Oct. 1, 2021: Jessica Vodden has been named Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for East Tennessee State University. Vodden comes to ETSU with more than a decade of experience in higher education marketing and public relations. "Jessica brings an impressive record in creating and leading successful strategic integrative marking initiatives in higher education and other settings," sai  more

HIGH POINT, North Carolina, Sept. 30 (TNSPer) -- High Point University issued the following news release: High Point University welcomed 12 new staff hires in August. They are as follows: Charles Fennell joined the Office of Student Life as resident director for R.G. Wanek Center and University Center 2. In this role, Fennell oversees the resident assistants and students of R.G. Wanek Center and University Center 2. He promotes the safety, security and development of all residential students   more

TULSA, Oklahoma, Sept. 29 -- The Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Clint Johnson, issued the following news release: Twenty-four federal prosecutors have joined the U.S. Attorney's Office within the last year and were sworn-in Wednesday by Chief U.S. District Judge John F. Heil III, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. The prosecutors were hired from across the nation to help prosecute the exponential increase in Indian Country cases following the Supreme Cou  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The Appalachian Regional Commission issued the following news release on Sept. 29, 2021: The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced 40 Fellows who will be participating in the third class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute. The class represents Appalachia's 13 states and includes professionals who live and/or work in the Region in a variety of sectors including education, healthcare, economic development, tourism, and others. As a part of the Leadership In  more

BOONE, North Carolina, Oct. 2 (TNSOps) -- Appalachian Voices issued the following news release: A new version of a bill backed by Duke Energy would pad the pockets of Duke Energy and its shareholders while having crushing financial implications for families and businesses. The largest section of the bill authorizing "performance based regulation" provides Duke automatic annual rate increases as well as the ability to earn and keep extra profits above their authorized rate of return. Independent  more

BOONE, North Carolina, Oct. 2 (TNSPol) -- Appalachian Voices issued the following news release: The authorization of funding for the Abandoned Mine Land (AML) fund officially expired at midnight Thursday. This lapse in funding brings a new level of uncertainty to the AML program, which is responsible for cleaning up dangerous highwalls, open mine portals, and polluted streams left by the coal industry all over the country. Legislators have known since 2006 that the AML Program needed to be rea  more

CLARKSDALE, Mississippi, Sept. 28 -- The Delta Regional Authority issued the following news release: The Delta Regional Authority (DRA), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), today announced a $14,587,500 investment to 12 programs designed to provide employment and training services to workers and job seekers. Administered by the DOL's Employment and Training Administration (ETA), the third round of the Workforce Opportunity for R  more

JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, Sept. 25 (TNSOps) -- East Tennessee State University issued the following news: Machine vision system company senswork GmbH has officially opened its subsidiary at the East Tennessee State University Innovation Lab. The German-based company will use the subsidiary, senswork Inc., to enter the U.S. market. senswork has been an affiliate member of the Innovation Lab since August 2020 and a residential member since May 2021. The company is also an International Soft Landi  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Sept. 29 (TNSOps) -- The Environmental Research and Education Foundation issued the following news release: The Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF) proudly announces the hiring of three new staff. These new staff come at the inception of a new 5-year plan, which focuses on sustainable materials management, furthering Data & Policy research and building/reinforcing relationships within the waste industry and the packaging and materials management industr  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on Sept. 29, 2021: The Federal Communications Commission today approved an additional 72 applications for funding commitments totaling $41,113,186 for Round 2 of its COVID-19 Telehealth Program. This is the FCC's second funding announcement of approved Round 2 applications following the nearly $42 million awarded on August 26 to health care providers in each state, territory, and the District of Colu  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Sept. 30 -- The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond issued the following speech on Sept. 29, 2021, by President Tom Barkin on Rural America Week: * * * Next week is the Richmond Fed's Rural America Week. It's the third year in a row we're bringing together funders and community organizations, exploring solutions to gaps in educational attainment, and sharing some of the many success stories we've heard in rural communities throughout the Richmond Fed's district. The Richmond   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior issued the following news release on Sept. 28, 2021: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) today announced nearly $79.2 million in grants to help conserve and permanently protect nearly 56,000 acres of habitat for 55 listed and at-risk species across 13 states through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CESCF). The grants will be matched by over $49.3 million in partner funds. "Using science as our guide, the   more

LONDON, England, Oct. 1 (TNSJou) -- The British Academy issued the following news on Sept. 30, 2021: A special issue of the open-access Journal of the British Academy on Environmental History is published today, featuring new research into historical dimensions of the Anthropocene, ecological resilience, environmental protection, climate politics and more. The Journal of the British Academy draws on new multi-disciplinary research from the humanities and social sciences. Today's new special i  more

FRANKFORT, Kentucky, Oct. 2 -- 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 Timothy Travis, Paulynn Covington and Phillip Kash as members of the State Advisory Council for Gifted and Talented Education. * Timothy Travis of LaGrange is the executive director of pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of Louisville and shall serve for a term expiring June  more

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, Oct. 1 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory issued the following news: NETL Director Brian Anderson, Ph.D., joined U.S. Department of Energy Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy and Carbon Management Jennifer Wilcox in highlighting the Lab's research into carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen power technologies that could be keys to success in America's unfolding energy transformation during the 2021 Shale I  more

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Sept. 24 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service Pennsylvania office issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest nearly $75 million for 15 partner-led projects to address natural resource concerns on private lands. This year, projects funded by the Regional Conservation Partnership Program's (RCPP) Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFA) focus on climate-smart agriculture and forestry an  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 (TNSRep) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory issued the following report (No. PNNL-31909) on Sept. 24, 2021, entitled "Coal-dependent Communities in Transition: Identifying Best Practices to Ensure Equitable Outcomes". The report was written by Bethel W. Tarekegne, Kamila Kazimierczuk and Rebecca S. O'Neil. * * * Here are excerpts: Executive Summary The U.S. coal industry is experiencing a sharp increase in the numbers of retired and  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Virginia, issued the following statement: * * * The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded $315,000 to Lee County for the Blackwater Phase II Water Project extending waterlines to underserved parts of the county. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement: "Reliable water infrastructure is important for a community's quality of life. "ARC's award of $315,000 to Lee County for the Blackwater Phase II project will   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Virginia, issued the following statement on Sept. 29, 2021: * * * The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) today awarded $41,075 to FIRST Chesapeake Robotics to support science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education in Southwest Virginia. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement. "Quality STEM education will serve students for a lifetime and draw attention to our region from innovative businesses and employ  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Virginia, issued the following statement: * * * The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded $420,000 to Henry County for the Historic Fieldale Recreation Center Renovation project. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement. "Renovating the Fieldale Recreation Center is a key project for Henry County's economic development. ARC's award of $420,000 to this project will significantly advance it and move Henry County  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 -- Rep. Harold Rogers, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release on Oct. 1, 2021: U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (KY-05) and U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded $590,208 to Elkhorn City for improvements to its sewer collection system in Pike County. The sewer improvements will help prevent sewer overflows benefiting 531 households and 62 businesses along the Russell Fork watershed. "This is grea  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 -- Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release on Oct. 1, 2021: U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (KY-05) and U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded $590,208 to Elkhorn City for improvements to its sewer collection system in Pike County. The sewer improvements will help prevent sewer overflows benefiting 531 households and 62 businesses along the Russell Fork water  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release on Sept. 28, 2021: U.S. Representative Glenn "GT" Thompson announced that Forest County is the recipient of a $451,315 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant. The grant will supplement local funds to deploy two broadband towers and a 911 repeater, to improve the county's emergency radio communications. The project will offer broadband services to 387 households and 15 businesses. In addition to t  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded a $250,000 grant to Columbiana County to install a new sewer system and a 50,000-gallon daily wastewater treatment plant in the Village of Hanoverton. The funds will help provide better sewer service to seven businesses and 153 households in the village. "Strong water and sewer infrastructure is critical to  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following news release on Oct. 1, 2021: U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded a $250,000 grant to the Tri-County Rural Water and Sewer District to expand service to the Village of Lowell and build a 200,000-gallon water storage tank to ensure customers have access to reliable water service. The water system improvements will support new water service to 65 households and  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following news release on Oct. 1, 2021: U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded a $250,000 grant to the Adams County Medical Foundation, Inc for the Adams County Regional Medical Center (ACRMC) Orthopedic Surgery Project. "Communities across Ohio face a heavy burden when financing infrastructure improvements, including health care facilities and technology," Brown said. "  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following news release on Sept. 27, 2021: U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) has awarded $6,839,113 to Ohio State University to establish a pilot watershed project in the larger Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) to test water quality management strategies with the goal of reducing phosphorus concentrations in local water bodies. U  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Rep. Harold Rogers, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release on Sept. 29, 2021: U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Congressman Hal Rogers (KY-05) announced today the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) will award $500,000 to the McKinney Water District in Lincoln County. This grant will provide funding for the installation of 65,475 linear feet of waterline and a new 300,000-gallon water storage tank. The federal funds come from an Appalachi  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 30, 2021: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today joined colleagues to introduce bipartisan legislation that would create a dedicated source of funding for projects that expand outdoor recreational opportunities in urban and low-income communities in Oregon and nationwide. "Appreciation of the outdoors is in Oregon's DNA, and we must make sure green spaces and local parks are accessible to everyone," Wyden said. "  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following news release on Sept. 29, 2021: U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced $1,484,675 in federal funding for SUNY Alfred State College of Technology through the U.S. Department of Labor, in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission. Schumer said the grant will be used to enhance workforce development initiatives to meet training needs like specialized welding skills  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release on Sept. 29, 2021: U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Congressman Hal Rogers (KY-05) announced today the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) will award $500,000 to the McKinney Water District in Lincoln County. This grant will provide funding for the installation of 65,475 linear feet of waterline and a new 300,000-gallon water storage tank. The federal funds co  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- The Senate Special Committee on Aging issued the following testimony by Vee Daniel, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau Serving Upstate South Carolina, at a hearing entitled "Frauds, Scams and COVID-19: How Con Artists Have Targeted Older Americans During the Pandemic": * * * Chairman Casey, Ranking Member Tim Scott, and distinguished members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today on the topic of, "Fraud Scams and COVID-19: How con   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release on Sept. 27, 2021: U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $4,969,520 from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for five water infrastructure projects across West Virginia. "Investing in water and wastewater infrastructure supports economic and community development," Senator Capito said. "Whet  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 27, 2021: U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $4,969,520 from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for five water infrastructure projects across West Virginia. "Investing in water and wastewater infrastructure sup  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release on Sept. 29, 2021: U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $1,499,410 from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to Marshall University Research Corporation to fund projects that invest in education, training, and career support services in the Appalachian region. "West Virginians are what make our sta  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 -- Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced the Outdoors for All Act. The legislation, which is co-sponsored by Senator Angus King (I-ME), would create a dedicated source of funding for projects that expand outdoor recreational opportunities in urban and low-income communities across the nation. The Outdoors for All Act establishes the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP)   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release on Sept. 27, 2021: U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $4,969,520 from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for five water infrastructure projects across West Virginia. "I've always said every West Virginian deserves clean air to drink and fresh air to breathe, and infrastructure investments are vital to   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release on Sept. 29, 2021: U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $1,499,410 from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to Marshall University Research Corporation to fund projects that invest in education, training, and career support services in the Appalachian region. "West Virginians are some of the hardest workers you'  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the Outdoors for All Act, legislation that would create a dedicated source of funding for projects that expand outdoor recreational opportunities in urban and low-income communities across the nation. This bipartisan bill is being led by Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-Calif.) and Congressman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) in the U  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (TNSRep) -- The Sierra Club issued the following news release: Right now Congress has a historic opportunity to reduce pollution, protect community health, and mitigate the climate crisis by passing the Clean Electricity Performance Program (CEPP), which would drive a transition to 100% clean electricity by 2035 - and create nearly 8 million jobs in the process. The House Energy and Commerce committee recently passed the CEPP as part of the Build Back Better Act, and just yes  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration issued the following news release on Sept. 27, 2021: The U.S. Department of Labor, in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Delta Regional Authority, today announced the award of $29,175,000 in grants to 23 organizations to provide employment and training services to regional and local workforces. Administered by the department's Employment and Training Administration, the third  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued the following news release on Sept. 28, 2021: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) today announced nearly $79.2 million in grants to help conserve and permanently protect nearly 56,000 acres of habitat for 55 listed and at-risk species across 13 states through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CESCF). The grants will be matched by over $49.3 million in partner funds.   more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Oct. 1 -- Gov. Ralph S. Northam, R-Virginia, issued the following news release on Sept. 30, 2021: Governor Ralph Northam today announced an allocation of more than $7.7 million in Growth and Opportunity for Virginia (GO Virginia) grants to advance community economic recovery efforts. This funding will support 14 projects focused on economic diversification, workforce development, talent pipelines, economic resiliency, and business-ready sites. "As Virginia's economy continu  more

CLIFTON FORGE, Virginia, Sept. 28 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's U.S. Forest Service unit - George Washington and Jefferson National Forests - issued the following news release on Sept. 27, 2021: Governor Ralph Northam today announced the reopening of Green Pastures Recreation Area in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. The Commonwealth of Virginia will work with the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service to restore and manage Green Pastures as a satel  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 -- The White House issued the following readout of a Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities meeting, on Sep. 27, 2021: * * * National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy and National Economic Council Director Brian Deese convened the Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities, where they were joined by Cabinet members and senior leadership from across the federal government. They discussed the Administration's efforts to-date that suppor  more