MORGANTOWN, West Virginia, June 27 (TNSres) -- West Virginia University issued the following news: Multiflora rose may sound like a bountiful variant of the classic flowering bush, but its unexpected white blooms and red berries conceal one of Mother Nature's sinister surprises: The invasive shrub is a thorny foe that threatens native plants in more than 40 states, including West Virginia and neighboring Pennsylvania. The perennial pest's flowers and fruit also make it easy to identify, which   more

BOONE, North Carolina, June 30 (TNSgov)(TNScapv) -- Appalachian Voices issued the following news release and letter on June 29, 2023: Today, 28 groups sent a letter to the Biden Administration urging the release of a long-delayed rule to protect coal miners from exposure to respirable silica - the principal cause of the resurgence of deadly black lung disease in coal miners. In the letter to Director Shalanda Young of the administration's Office of Management and Budget, advocates note that the  more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- The Appalachian Regional Commission issued the following news release on June 29, 2023: Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) awarded two new grants totaling over $5.2 million through its new Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE) funding opportunity, which drives large-scale economic transformation through multi-state collaboration: * A $4.7 million ARISE grant to Education Alliance will support a new project to mentor, train and prepa  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following news release on June 30, 2023: Following repeated calls from U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), today the U.S. Department of Labor announced a proposal to update federal standards to better protect miners in Ohio and around the country from health hazards related to exposure to respirable crystalline silica, or silica dust, which causes Black Lung Disease. "For generations America's coal miners risked their lives and their   more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following news release and a letter: U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Bob Casey (D-PA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) called on Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young to provide additional information on the delayed announcement of a new silica standard for miners across America, especially Appalachia. "While we understand that the federal rulemaking proc  more

BOONE, North Carolina, June 28 (TNScapv)(TNSgov) -- Appalachian Voices issued the following news release on June 27, 2023: Last night, 28 groups formally submitted comments in support of a new proposal by the Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation Enforcement (OSMRE) that ensures action is taken in response to citizen complaints about safety, pollution, and other violations at coal mining sites across the country. In their comments, the groups applauded the Biden Administration's steps to upd  more

BOONE, North Carolina, June 29 (TNSper) -- Appalachian State University issued the following news: After a national search, Elizabeth Auer has been named executive director of arts engagement and cultural resources at Appalachian State University, effective Aug. 15. Auer will be responsible for administration of the university's premier arts festival, An Appalachian Summer Festival, as well as the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts and the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts, and all progr  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, June 28 (TNSgov) -- Appalachian Voices issued the following news release on June 27, 2023: Late Monday, environmental and community organizations filed a response opposing efforts by the U.S. Department of Justice and Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC, to dismiss the environmental groups' pending challenge to the latest biological opinion and incidental take statement under the Endangered Species Act for the ill-advised Mountain Valley Pipeline. Also on Monday, the Southern Env  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 (TNSgov) -- The Wilderness Society issued the following news release: Late yesterday, on behalf of The Wilderness Society, the Southern Environmental Law Center filed a brief opposing motions to dismiss from the Federal Government and a pipeline company in two cases involving the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) arguing that Section 324 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act violates the separation of powers and is unconstitutional. These cases pre-date passage of Sect  more

WASHINGTON, June 28 (TNSgov) -- The Southern Environmental Law Center issued the following news release on June 27, 2023: Late yesterday, on behalf of The Wilderness Society, the Southern Environmental Law Center filed a brief opposing motions to dismiss from the Federal Government and a pipeline company in two cases involving the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) arguing that Section 324 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act violates the separation of powers and is unconstitutional. Thes  more

WASHINGTON, June 29 (TNSper) -- The National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities issued the following news release on June 28, 2023: The National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) announced today that Justin Monk has been named director of student and institutional aid policy. Monk joins NAICU from the KIPP Foundation, where he was the director of government affairs. "I am pleased to welcome Justin to NAICU where he will be an integral part of our go  more

FRANKFORT, Kentucky, June 29 -- The Kentucky Public Service Commission issued the following order (Case No. 2023-00152) on June 28, 2023: * * * In the Matter of: Electronic Tariff Filing Of Hay Exploration, Inc. For Initial Rules, Regulations, And Rates For Furnishing Gas Service Pursuant To KRS 278.485 COMMISSION STAFF'S SECOND REQUEST FOR INFORMATION TO HAY EXPLORATION, INC. Hay Exploration, Inc. (Hay Exploration), pursuant to 807 KAR 5:001, shall file with the Commission an electronic ver  more

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana, June 30 -- Southwestern Electric Power, an American Electric Power company, issued the following news release on June 29, 2023: Southwestern Electric Power Co., an American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) company, has received approval by the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) to move forward with its fuel-free power plan to acquire up to 999 megawatts (MW) of renewable generation resources. The LPSC today approved the terms of a settlement agreement reached on Marc  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, July 1 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release on June 30, 2023: Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority will receive $2,900,000 from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to establish an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) program at the Appalachian Regional Airport. This federal funding is one of the Congressionally Directed Sp  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, July 1 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release on June 29, 2023: Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $4,720,580 from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to the Education Alliance for the Career Acceleration, Readiness, and Employment Experiences for ARC Region Students (CAREERS) project. This federal investment will support students' career readiness by increasing work-b  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, June 27 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release on June 26, 2023: Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $81,429 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support safe, affordable housing for all West Virginians. The funding will specifically be used to promote housing stability in Mingo and Randolph Counties, support housing counseling services in southe  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on June 25, 2023, and a letter: U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bob Casey (D-PA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) wrote a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young, urging for additional information on the delayed announcement of a new silica standard for miners across America, especially Appalachia. "While we understand th  more

MILLIGAN, Tennessee, June 28 (TNSawa) -- Milligan College issued the following news release: Milligan University professor and Area Chair of Music Dr. Kellie Brown was recently honored by the Arts Alliance Mountain Empire (AAME) as the 2023 recipient of its Arts Achievement Award for Arts Educator. The Arts Achievement Awards recognize living individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the arts in the region. In addition to her excellence as a performer, conductor and music educator  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 (TNSgov) -- The Sierra Club issued the following news release: Late Monday, environmental and community organizations filed a response opposing efforts by the U.S. Department of Justice and Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC, to dismiss the environmental groups' pending challenge to the latest biological opinion and incidental take statement under the Endangered Species Act for the ill-advised Mountain Valley Pipeline. Also on Monday, the Southern Environmental Law Center on beh  more

BOONE, North Carolina, June 29 (TNStalk) -- Appalachian Voices issued the following statement on June 28, 2023: * * * This afternoon, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC, permission to resume construction of its dangerous and unnecessary pipeline project, following authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that was granted late last week under the direction of Congress as part of the debt ceiling bill signed into law on June 3. This action w  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, June 28 -- Gov. Bill Lee, R-Tennessee, issued the following news on June 27, 2023: Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced that the number of distressed counties in the state has reduced to eight, the fewest in Tennessee history, marking a significant milestone in the Lee administration's mission to accelerate the transformation of rural Tennessee. "In 2019, we began an administration-wide mission to expand opportunity for Tennesseans in rural areas, and our strategi  more

GREENEVILLE, Tennessee, June 29 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Francis M. Hamilton III, issued the following news release: On June 26, 2023, following a four-day trial in the United States District Court at Greeneville, a jury convicted Terrance Lamont Hines, Jr., 41, of Kingsport, Tenn., of conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl resulting in death in violation of 21 U.S.C. Sec.Sec. 846, 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A) and 851; possession of 40 grams or more of  more

ASHEVILLE, North Carolina, June 28 (TNSawa) -- The University of North Carolina-Asheville issued the following news: UNC Asheville Department of Mass Communication has been honored with the prestigious 2023 Kay Phillips Distinguished Service Award. This accolade, presented annually by the North Carolina Scholastic Media Association (NCSMA), recognizes those who exemplify unparalleled dedication to scholastic journalism statewide. For nearly two decades, UNC Asheville has fostered a strong part  more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on June 29, 2023: Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded $490,647 in federal funding to Virginia Tech for the planning of a project to accelerate forest farming and grow the non-timber forest product (NTFP) industry in Central Appalachia. "We're glad to see these federal dollars go towards supporting Appalachian Sustainable Development in its efforts to make Southwest Virginia a  more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on June 29, 2023: Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded $490,647 in federal funding to Virginia Tech for the planning of a project to accelerate forest farming and grow the non-timber forest product (NTFP) industry in Central Appalachia. "We're glad to see these federal dollars go towards supporting Appalachian Sustainable Development in its efforts to make Southwest Virginia   more

MAHWAH, New Jersey, June 29 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on June 28, 2023: Today, June 28, 2023, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), a member of the Congressional Lyme Disease Caucus, announced bipartisan federal action to combat ticks, spread awareness to protect families, and boost investment in R&D for Lyme disease treatment. Gottheimer was joined by environmental experts to highlight how North Jersey families can protect themselves from tick  more