MONTGOMERY, Alabama, Oct. 9 -- The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs issued the following news release: Gov. Kay Ivey has announced a $98,541 grant to help the town of Falkville eliminate a drainage problem and relieve unnecessary sewage inflows at the town's wastewater plant. The town will use funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission to improve storm drainage and prevent that water from seeping into sewer lines. The additional inflow into sewer lines increases the amo  more

BOONE, North Carolina, Oct. 13 (TNSPol) -- Appalachian Voices issued the following news release: A bill drafted by North Carolina lawmakers behind closed doors was signed into law on Wednesday. House Bill 951 sets an ambitious goal of reducing carbon emissions 70% by 2030, and instructs the North Carolina Utilities Commission to take all steps necessary to achieve that goal by creating a carbon reduction plan. Advance Carolina, Appalachian Voices and the Center for Biological Diversity strongly  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Oct. 15 -- The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond issued the following article on Oct. 14, 2021, by Surekha Carpenter, and vice president and economist Sonya Ravindranath Waddell: The U.S. economy -- like many modern economies -- is built on the premise of clearly delineated property rights. When it comes to land or homes, clear ownership is generally required to secure a loan for property improvements or qualify for a government grant after a disaster. Property ownership has   more

FRANKFORT, Kentucky, Oct. 12 -- Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Kentucky, issued the following news: On Thursday during his weekly Team Kentucky update, Gov. Andy Beshear said due to increased vaccinations and more Kentuckians wearing masks indoors, the commonwealth continues to see a decline in COVID-19 cases, test positivity rate, hospitalizations, ICU admittances and ventilator use, while the state's economy thrives. "Building on last week's monumental economic development news, companies continue to   more

MOREHEAD, Kentucky, Oct. 14 (TNSOps) -- Morehead State University issued the following news: Dr. Russ Zokaites, visiting assistant professor of music at Morehead State University, is releasing his debut album "Bootleg" on Friday, Nov. 5. The album, published by Centaur Records and distributed through NAXOS, will be available on all streaming services. Zokaites joined the faculty at MSU in the fall of 2018. A native of Christiansburg, Virginia, he started playing trombone in the school band. Si  more

INEZ, Kentucky, Oct. 16 -- Rep. Harold Rogers, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release on Oct. 15, 2021: U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers (KY-05) secured the Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of the family of the late Col. Martin Himler from Martin County, who served the U.S. military during World War II as a colonel in the Office of Strategical Services (OSS), the precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The Congressional Gold Medal was commissioned for members of the OSS in rec  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (TNSPol) -- The Sierra Club issued the following news release on Oct. 13, 2021: Yesterday, the WV Public Service Commission released its final order approving Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power's request to have West Virginia customers pay 100% of the ELG retrofit costs at three coal power plants (Amos, Mountaineer, and Mitchell), which will keep those plants open until 2040. Even though the Kentucky and Virginia Commissions disallowed cost recovery as imprudent. T This n  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (TNSRep) -- The Union of Concerned Scientists issued the following news release on Oct. 13, 2021: Residents living near coal-fired power plants that produce and leave behind coal ash--especially in the Ohio River Valley where one in five disposal sites are located--have been waiting for the Biden administration to enforce the 2015 Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) Rule, which requires utilities to excavate coal ash ponds that are in contact with groundwater. Today, the Union o  more

WACO, Texas, Oct. 10 (TNSOps) -- The American Football Coaches Association issued the following news Oct. 10, 2021: The USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll Top 25 with team's records FROM THROUGH SATURDAY in parentheses, total points based on 25 for first place through one point for 25th, ranking in last year's final poll and first-place votes received. RELATED ARTICLE: [FBS POLL] USA TODAY Sports AFCA College Football Coaches Poll - Week 5: https://www.afca.com/?p=9260&preview_id=9260&preview_  more

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee, Oct. 13 (TNSOps) -- The Conservation Fund issued the following news release on Oct. 12, 2021: Volkswagen of America and The Conservation Fund announced the completion of a multi-year effort to buy, conserve and transfer approximately 1,500 acres of land to the U.S. Forest Service for inclusion in the Cherokee National Forest. The protection of this land, consisting of three separate tracts near the Volkswagen Chattanooga Assembly Plant in Tennessee, enhances statewide ef  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Oct. 16 -- Gov. Jim Justice, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release on Oct. 15, 2021: Gov. Jim Justice today unveiled a billion-dollar strategy to bring broadband availability to 200,000 more West Virginia homes and businesses. The plan will combine funding from federal, state, and local governments, along with matching investments from private-sector partners, to accelerate the expansion of high-speed internet to underserved areas of the state. The plan r  more