WASHINGTON, July 26 (TNSeve) -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation has scheduled its 2022 National Convention in San Antonio, Texas, for Oct. 28-30, 2022. According to the agency website: The theme of this year's national convention is "DO Mess with Texas," in honor of Gov. Greg Abbott's explicit caution to the state/church watchdog "not to mess with Texas," which has become Ground Zero for theocratic policymaking. The event will feature many newsmaking awardees, freethinking authors and sta  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The Appalachian Regional Commission issued the following news release: The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is proud to announce that 39 fellows from Appalachia's 13 states graduated from the Appalachian Leadership Institute, a leadership and economic development program sponsored by the Appalachian Regional Commission. Members of the Class of 2022, along with their friends and family, attended the ceremony in Washington, D.C. "My sincerest congratulations to the 20  more

BOONE, North Carolina, July 26 -- Appalachian State University issued the following news: The 2022 Chancellor's Innovation Scholars have been announced, with five teams of Appalachian State University faculty receiving up to $10,000 each from the Office of the Chancellor and the Division of Academic Affairs. "Each year App State's Innovation Scholars personify the dedication of the university's faculty and staff to elevating the App State campus, our community and -- ultimately -- the world fo  more

COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 28 (TNSres) -- American Electric Power Corp. issued the following news release on July 27, 2022: * * * * Second-quarter 2022 GAAP earnings of $1.02 per share and $1.20 per share operating * Company reaffirms 2022 operating earnings (non-GAAP) guidance range of $4.87 to $5.07 and 6% to 7% long-term growth rate * Continued focus on a responsible clean energy transition through regulated renewables and grid investments * Kentucky sale expected to close this summer; unregul  more

BOONE, North Carolina, July 29 (TNSreact) -- Appalachian Voices issued the following news release on July 28, 2022: Tonight, Senate Democrats released the full text of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. This legislation includes a permanent extension of the Black Lung Excise Tax - an unprecedented investment in the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund that goes above and beyond the 10-year extension fought for by advocates since a full extension of the excise tax expired at the end of 2021. The   more

BOONE, North Carolina, July 30 (TNSreact) -- Appalachian Voices issued the following news release: Advocates for abandoned mine clean up and clean water across the country celebrated as the U.S. House passed the Safeguarding Treatment for the Restoration of Ecosystems from Abandoned Mines (STREAM) Act -- bipartisan legislation that would guarantee that major new investments in abandoned mine land clean up can be directed to address the acid mine drainage (AMD) crisis that threatens waterways ac  more

BOONE, North Carolina, July 29 (TNSreact) -- Appalachian Voices issued the following news release on July 28, 2022: Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-WV, released a new budget reconciliation deal -- the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 -- to address climate and energy, the price of prescription drugs and tax reform. The package includes $369 billion in climate and energy spending and permanently restores a tax on coal to support the Black Lung Disabi  more

JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, July 26 (TNSper) -- Ballad Health, a community health improvement organization, issued the following news release on July 26, 2022: As Ballad Health continues expanding access to high-quality children's health services throughout the Appalachian Highlands, a seasoned hospital administrator has been tapped to lead the endeavor. Christopher Jett, an experienced healthcare executive with more than 14 years of experience, has been named chief executive officer of the Balla  more

WASHINGTON, July 26 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R43424) on July 25, 2022, entitled "Highway Bridges: Conditions, Funding Programs and Issues for Congress" by transportation policy specialists Robert S. Kirk and William J. Mallet. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The United States has approximately 620,000 bridges longer than 20 feet on public roads. About 48% of these bridges are owned by state governments and 50% by local governments. The   more

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued the following statement on July 28, 2022, by Commissioner James Danly on a decision (Docket No. CP21-29-000) involving Gas Transmission Northwest LLC: * * * I concur in the decision to grant authorization for Gas Transmission Northwest LLC to construct and operate the compressor station under section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA).[1] I write separately to make a handful of points. First, alt  more

LANSING, Michigan, July 28 -- The Michigan Public Service Commission issued the following news release on July 27, 2022: At a meeting held in Detroit to provide southeast Michigan residents a chance to address Commissioners directly, the Michigan Public Service Commission today approved a cost recovery plan for DTE Gas Co. but warned the utility that costs arising from the use of the NEXUS Gas Transmission LLC pipeline would face scrutiny and may not be recovered. A partnership between the uti  more

MILLIGAN, Tennessee, July 27 (TNSacc) -- Milligan College issued the following news release: Milligan's Physician Assistant (PA) Program has achieved full accreditation status by their national accrediting body and is one of only 287 programs to achieve this accomplishment nationwide. The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Milligan University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Milligan   more

NEW YORK, July 28 -- The Open Space Institute issued the following news release: Seeking to further harness the capacity for strategic land protection to counter climate change and its impacts, the Open Space Institute (OSI) today announced a major new effort of its Appalachian Landscapes Protection Fund (ALPF) to conserve key forested areas in western and central Pennsylvania. The new $4 million expansion, catalyzed with a $2 million commitment of grant and loan funds from the Richard King Me  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 (TNSpol) -- Prosperity Now (formerly the Corporation for Enterprise Development) issued the following news release: Prosperity Now President and CEO, Gary Cunningham, joined Vice President Kamala Harris and a coalition of more than 20 companies, nonprofits and foundations at an event in Brooklyn, New York, today, to announce historic funding efforts to activate public and private investment in America's underserved communities. "As a national and local racial economic just  more

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Virginia, issued the following statement on July 25, 2022: * * * The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) today awarded $1.2 million to Henry County for the Reservoir Road improvements project to enhance access to the Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement: "Improving Reservoir Road is important to the success of Commonwealth Crossing. "ARC's award of $1.2 million for road impro  more

WASHINGTON, July 27 -- Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-New York, issued the following news release and letter: Congresswoman Elise Stefanik led her colleagues in calling on the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) to expand opportunity to recruit doctors to rural NY-21 in the midst of a physician staffing shortage. Specifically, Stefanik requested the NBRC implement a J-1 visa waiver program that would allow nondomestic physicians trained in the U.S. to work in health professional shortage areas   more

WASHINGTON, July 26 (TNSres) -- Resources for the Future issued the following news release: * * * A new report finds that while the POWER Initiative provided funding to many coal communities across the United States, many counties may not have received the help that they needed. * * * A new analysis by a multi-institutional team of scholars finds that while the Obama-era POWER Initiative provided substantial financial support to some coal communities, many counties may not have received the   more

CHAPMANVILLE, West Virginia, July 30 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release on July 29, 2022: U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today visited Chapmanville, W.Va. to participate in the construction kickoff of Appalachian Power and Gigabeam's broadband partnership project that will bring high-speed internet connection to 13,000 homes, businesses, schools, and churches in Logan and Mingo counties. "I've heard loud and clear through my Capito Con  more

WASHINGTON, July 27 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release on July 26, 2022: U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), both members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $13,009,453 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to bolster local health centers, provide maternal health services, increase access to HIV/AIDS treatment, support drug addiction research projects, strengthen youth va  more

WASHINGTON, July 27 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release on July 26, 2022: U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), both members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $13,009,453 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to bolster local health centers, provide maternal health services, increase access to HIV/AIDS treatment, support drug addiction research projects, strengthen youth vaccination progr  more

WASHINGTON, July 27 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $1,200,000 in federal funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for Henry County. This funding will go towards improving 3,550 linear feet of Reservoir Road and updating gravel roadways to meet Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) standards. The project will support the creation of 400 new jobs, help leverage approximately $18  more

WASHINGTON, July 27 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $1,200,000 in federal funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for Henry County. This funding will go towards improving 3,550 linear feet of Reservoir Road and updating gravel roadways to meet Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) standards. The project will support the creation of 400 new jobs, help leverage approximately $188   more

COOKEVILLE, Tennessee, July 26 -- Tennessee Technological University issued the following news release: The annual appropriation for Tennessee Tech in the 2022-2023 State of Tennessee budget includes nearly $100 million for the university and its programs. This is in addition to the more than $100 million in capital construction and maintenance projects. All told, Tech received $201.3 million in the state's appropriation and capital budgets for the new fiscal year. "To say this year's budget   more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, July 25 (TNSawa) -- The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation issued the following news: Judy Murray, who has led an inspired life dedicated to conservation in Southern Appalachia, has been named winner of the 2022 Robert Sparks Walker Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is part of the annual Governor's Environmental Stewardship Awards administered by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). The announcement was made at the annual   more

WASHINGTON, July 19 (TNSRep) -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's U.S. Geological Survey issued the following report entitled "New Jersey and Landsat." Here are excerpts: * * * ABSTRACT New Jersey ranks among the smallest of States but packs a lot within its borders. Of course, that includes the more than 9 million people who make it the most densely populated State, but it also includes diverse landscapes. Ranging from Atlantic Ocean barrier islands and beaches to the Appalachian Mounta  more

WASHINGTON, July 20 (TNSrep) -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's U.S. Geological Survey issued the following report entitled "Tennessee and Landsat": Here are excerpts: * * * ABSTRACT From the flat, rich soil of western Tennessee to the Appalachian Mountains in the east, and rolling hills in between, "the Volunteer State" enjoys a wealth of natural resources. The Tennessee, Cumberland, and Mississippi Rivers supply economically crucial navigation routes, along with recreation for resid  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, July 28 -- The Virginia Tourism Corporation issued the following news release: The Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) announced a new grant program aimed at growing Virginia's outdoor economy. The DRIVE Outdoor grant program builds on the DRIVE 2.0 Statewide Strategic Plan to enhance outdoor recreational development, assets, and entrepreneurial opportunities within Virginia. Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) receiving funds will be awarded up to $20,000 for outdoor   more