JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, Jan. 14 (TNSPer) -- East Tennessee State University issued the following news: East Tennessee State University and Ballad Health announced that Dr. Kathryn Wilhoit has been named the inaugural director of the Appalachian Highlands Center for Nursing Advancement. She began her new role on Jan. 1, 2022. Wilhoit brings more than 40 years of experience in clinical and research-based nursing, administration and leadership experience to this role. Most recently, she served a  more

WACO, Texas, Jan. 11 (TNSOps) -- The American Football Coaches Association issued the following news on Jan. 10, 2022: The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) presented its top coaching award -- AFCA National Coach of the Year -- to four outstanding coaches in Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Division II, Division III and the NAIA. North Dakota State's Matt Entz (FCS), Bowie State's Damon Wilson (Division II), Central (Iowa) College's Jeff McMartin (Division III) and Morning  more

EL SEGUNDO, California, Jan. 11 (TNSPer) -- Los Angeles Times issued the following statement by Deputy Managing Editor Shelby Grad: * * * I am pleased to announce the hiring of new staffers for Metro in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Northern California. Hannah Wiley, Sacramento Reporter Hannah Wiley has joined the Sacramento bureau as a state government reporter who will cover California criminal justice and housing issues. Wiley came from the Sacramento Bee, where she served as lead legislat  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Jan. 10 (TNSPer) -- Gov. Ralph S. Northam, R-Virginia, issued the following news release on Jan. 8, 2022: Governor Ralph Northam announced additional appointments to his Administration today. Secretariat of the Commonwealth Board Appointments Board for Contractors * Wiley "Bif" Johnson/* of Amherst, President and CEO, Hurt & Proffitt, Inc. * Doug Lowe/* of Charlottesville, Owner of Sagebuild Consulting, LLC. Board for Waste Management Facility Operators * Toby F. Edwa  more

BOONE, North Carolina, Jan. 15 (TNSPol)(TNScapV) -- Appalachian Voices issued the following joint news release with 68 organizations: The National Black Lung Association and 68 other organizations sent a letter to congressional leadership Thursday urging immediate action to provide a long-term extension of the Black Lung Excise Tax. When Congress failed to pass a four-year extension of the Black Lung Excise Tax in the Build Back Better Act before the new year began, that single source of reven  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R46859) on Jan. 10, 2022, entitled "Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education: FY2021 Appropriations": * * * (Continued from Part 1 of 4) Department of Labor (DOL) Note that all amounts in this section are based on regular LHHS appropriations only. Amounts in this section do not include mandatory funds provided outside of the annual appropriations process (e.g., direct appropriations for Unemploy  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 (TNSJou) -- The Defenders of Wildlife issued the following news: A new study by Defenders of Wildlife's Center for Conservation Innovation, "Identifying key federal, state and private lands strategies for achieving 30X30 in the US" was published this week in the leading scientific journal Conservation Letters. The groundbreaking research, which went through rigorous peer-review after first being released as a report by CCI in 2020, highlights strategic ways to conserve 30 p  more

JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, Jan. 13 (TNSOps) -- East Tennessee State University issued the following news: Born in Bristol, Tennessee, just after World War I ended, Ernest Jennings Ford - known best as Tennessee Ernie Ford - reached tremendous levels of fame. A radio and television host and singer who crossed many genres, Ford became especially well known for his 1955 recording of "Sixteen Tons," one of the biggest country and pop hits of the 1950s. Thanks to the work of East Tennessee State Uni  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the following news release on Jan. 14, 2022: Yesterday afternoon, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra participated in virtual roundtable to thank and encourage organizations helping Tennesseans gain health coverage ahead of the January 15th deadline to sign up for a plan on HealthCare.gov or Medicaid. Tennessee has an uninsured rate (https://www.kff.org/statedata/election-stat  more

FRANKFORT, Kentucky, Jan. 13 -- Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Kentucky, issued the following news: Gov. Andy Beshear outlined his budget plan to make critical investments to expand health care access and support services for Kentuckians, including fully funding the Medicaid program, on which one in three Kentuckians rely. "World-class companies are looking to Kentucky to invest, and one of their priorities is a strong and healthy workforce," said Gov. Beshear. "Health care is a basic human right. It's   more

KANSAS CITY, Missouri, Jan. 13 (TNSOps) -- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics issued the following news: Players of the week are evaluated on their performance during the week prior to the announcement. Each player is selected out of a pool of conference and Continental Athletic Conference (Independents) award winners. Week 1 (November 17, 2021) Wrestler of the Week: Jack Bass, Life (Ga.) He won the 157 lbs. bracket at the Mountaineer Open that was hosted by Appalachian St  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 -- Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Virginia, issued the following statement on Jan. 11, 2022: * * * The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) today awarded $500,000 to the Town of Dungannon for improvements to its water distribution system. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement: "Clean and reliable water service is essential to a community's health and quality of life. ARC's award of $500,000 to Dungannon to update its water distribution system will pro  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on Jan. 12, 2022: U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) today announced $500,000 in federal funds for the Town of Dungannon to go towards improvements to its water distribution system. The improvements include the installation of 13,840 linear feet of waterline at scattered locations to improve water service for 42 households and 25 businesses. The new waterline will also increase water accountab  more

KANSAS CITY, Missouri, Jan. 13 (TNSOps) -- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics issued the following news: The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) presented its top coaching award -- AFCA National Coach of the Year -- to four outstanding coaches in Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Division II, Division III and the NAIA. The winners are selected by a vote of the Active AFCA members at four-year schools in FCS, Division II, Division III and the NAIA. The AFCA h  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Jan. 15 -- Gov. Ralph S. Northam, R-Virginia, issued the following news release on Jan. 14, 2022: Governor Ralph Northam today announced the award of more than $1.2 million in United States Department of Agriculture grant funding for 19 specialty crop projects in Virginia. The project awards resulted from a competitive grant process established by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to support federally eligible specialty crops, including fruits, veg  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Jan. 15 -- Gov. Ralph S. Northam, R-Virginia, issued the following news release on Jan. 14, 2022: Governor Northam today announced a comprehensive agreement to construct the $207 million Route 460/121 Poplar Creek "Phase B" project in Buchanan County. This is the final phase of a longstanding highway project that extends 127.5 miles in Virginia from the Kentucky state line near Breaks Interstate Park to Interstate 81 near Christiansburg. The project--known as Corridor Q--is  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Jan. 12 -- Gov. Ralph S. Northam, R-Virginia, issued the following news release on Jan. 11, 2022: Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Phoenix Hardwoods, Inc., an artisan manufacturer of high-quality furniture and home goods made exclusively from Virginia-grown hardwoods, will expand its production facility in the county and open a new retail storefront in the historic Farmer Supply store in the heart of downtown Floyd. The new retail and manufacturing space will en  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Jan. 13 (TNSsro) -- The Public Service Commission of West Virginia issued the following order (Case No. 21-0693-E-C): LISA and MICHAEL RAMSEY, Handley, Kanawha County, Complainants, V. APPALACHIAN POWER COMPANY, a public utility, Defendant. PROCEDURAL ORDER By this Procedural Order, the parties are given ten additional days in which to file a response or objection to the Staff recommendation or to request a hearing. PROCEDURE On January 12, 2022, Commission Staff   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured $6,032,784,310 in funding for top West Virginia priorities in 2021. Every year, Senator Manchin fights to secure annual funding in the Senate Appropriations Committee to support West Virginians. In addition to that annual funding, West Virginia has received and will continue to receive critical relief from multiple f  more