WASHINGTON, March 16 -- The American Forest Foundation issued the following news on March 15, 2024: The American Forest Foundation (AFF) announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded the organization $20 million of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds through its Forest Landowner Support (FLS) program. The funds will support bolstering rural American economies by equipping underserved and small-acreage forest landowners to access emerging private markets - like the v  more

CUMBERLAND, Maryland, March 14 -- Allegany College of Maryland issued the following news release: Allegany College of Maryland (ACM) has released the recordings and transcripts of an Oral History Project that began nearly a half-century ago. Faculty and dozens of ACM students conducted formal interviews with government officials, area residents, business owners, community providers, and faith leaders. For the very first time, 105 of the 185 oral histories collected from 1975-1980 are available   more

CUMBERLAND, Maryland, March 15 -- Allegany College of Maryland issued the following news release on March 14, 2024: Allegany College of Maryland (ACM) proudly announces that three of its employees, Laura Fiscus, Jennifer Light, and Sandra "Sandi" Foreman, were chosen to receive League Excellence Awards from the League for Innovation in the Community College. They were nominated and selected by their peers. The League Excellence Awards recognize those who have demonstrated exceptional dedication  more

NORTON, Virginia, March 13 (TNSres) -- Appalachian Voices issued the following news release on March 12, 2024: Today, Appalachian Voices released a new report detailing Southwest Virginia coalfield leaders' perspectives on new energy technologies in their communities. The report, "Modeling a Just Transition in Virginia's Coalfields: Engaging Community Stakeholders on Emerging Energy Technologies," is based on the results from a community survey conducted in partnership with the Appalachian Cent  more

WASHINGTON, March 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11140) on March 15, 2024, by economic development policy analyst Julie M. Lawhorn. Here are excerpts: * * * Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities: Overview of Structure and Activities Federal regional commissions and authorities address perceived regional economic underdevelopment. These organizations generally accommodate multileveled and multijurisdictional participation and i  more

WASHINGTON, March 15 -- The U.S. Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services division issued the following news release on March 14, 2024: The Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) today announced the two recipients of the 2024 L. Anthony Sutin Award for Innovative Law Enforcement and Community Partnerships. They are: * Lancaster County (South Carolina) Sheriff's Office with the Coalition for Healthy Youth; and * Macomb County (M  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, March 14 -- The North Carolina Department of Commerce issued the following news release: Applications are again being accepted by the Department of Commerce for its professional development and education program for rural leaders in North Carolina. New participants in the Rural Community Capacity (RC2) program will be able to select an eastern location for the campus-based educational program as East Carolina University joins Appalachian State University in the RC2 prog  more

RINDGE, New Hampshire, March 15 -- Franklin Pierce University issued the following news: Franklin Pierce is pleased to announce it will be awarding two honorary degrees and the Honorable Walter R. Peterson Citizen Leader Award as part of the University's 59th Commencement exercises on Saturday, May 11. This year's honorary degree recipients are leading collegiate sports and employment attorney Janet Judge and renowned American folk and blues singer Tom Rush. In addition, Cheshire County Sherif  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release on March 12, 2024: Amid National Sunshine Week, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is spotlighting federal whistleblower disclosure policies and demanding agencies take action to ensure employees know their rights to report wrongdoing. By law, all federal agency nondisclosure policies, forms and agreements must contain an "anti-gag" provision, which informs employees of their right to report waste, fraud or a  more

WASHINGTON, March 15 -- Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) awarded $100,000 to Washington County for the Mendota and Creeper Trails Broadband Project. The project will feature the construction and delivery of broadband infrastructure along the trails. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement: "I am pleased that ARC decided to help expand broadband in Washington County. The County has mad  more

ATLANTA, Georgia, March 15 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service issued the following news release on March 14, 2024: The National Park Service (NPS) today announced the selection of Joshua Manley as the new superintendent for Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park in Hodgenville, Kentucky, effective April 7. "Joshua is a dynamic leader, destined to advance the park's great tradition of preserving and interpreting the environment that nurtured President L  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release on March 12, 2024: Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) sent a letter to Peggy Carr, Commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the U.S. Department of Education, urging her to consider ruggedness scales in NCES's measurements to ensure areas like Appalachia are not left behind. NCES is responsible for collecting and analyzing education data, which includes classifying p  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 13 -- The Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation issued the following news release: Mid Atlantic Arts Central Appalachia Living Traditions Program, in partnership with Grow Appalachia and the Appalachian Studies Association, is thrilled to announce the 2024 Appalachian Foodways Practitioner Fellows. The Fellowships honor, celebrate, and support foodways tradition bearers in Central Appalachia who have made significant contributions to sustaining and supporting the foodways heri  more

WILLIAMSPORT, Pennsylvania, March 12 -- The Pennsylvania College of Technology issued the following news: The renamed Center for Academic Excellence at Pennsylvania College of Technology will bear the name, and honor the lifelong service, of Michael J. Hudock Sr., a beloved and dedicated area educator, coach and mentor. The Michael J. Hudock Sr. Center for Academic Excellence will benefit from a $250,000 endowed gift from his wife, Barbara , CEO and founding partner of Hudock Capital Group LLC  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 (TNSres) -- The Competitive Carriers Association issued the following news release on March 12, 2024: CTIA and Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) today released a new joint report highlighting the important role that regional wireless operators play in serving communities across the country. The report shows how continued support for regional wireless operators is critical to closing the digital divide, ensuring a thriving and competitive wireless marketplace and suppor  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 (TNSres) -- CTIA-The Wireless Association issued the following news release on March 12, 2024: CTIA and Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) today released a new joint report [link to report not provided by source] highlighting the important role that regional wireless operators play in serving communities across the country. The report shows how continued support for regional wireless operators is critical to closing the digital divide, ensuring a thriving and competitiv  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, issued the following news release on March 11, 2024: U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) helped secure key New Hampshire priorities in the bipartisan government funding package that passed the U.S. Senate today. The legislation, which now goes to President Biden's desk to be signed into law, provides government funding through the end of September for the Departments of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, Housing and Urban De  more

WASHINGTON, March 15 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release on March 14, 2024: Today, Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, announced a total of $13,800,000 in funding through the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office for two projects at West Virginia University (WVU) Research Corporation to research meth  more

OWENSBORO, Kentucky, March 16 -- The U.S. Postal Service issued the following news release on March 15, 2024: That high lonesome sound was celebrated here today with the dedication of the Bluegrass Forever stamp at the Bluegrass Hall of Fame and Museum. Bluegrass is a singularly American music style, born in the mid-20th century. It defies time, drawing inspiration from the past while also openly embracing innovation. "Like Bluegrass, the Postal Service finds inspiration in our nation's histo  more

WASHINGTON, March 16 -- The White House issued the following readout of a meeting with regional commissions on supporting an economic comeback in communities across the country: * * * This week, National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard convened White House officials and the Federal Co-Chairs of six Regional Commissions: the Appalachian Regional Commission, Denali Commission, Delta Regional Authority, Northern Border Regional Commission, Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, and Southwest Bord  more

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia, March 13 -- West Virginia Wesleyan College issued the following news: When filmmaker Kate Tsubata decided to bring her long-envisioned concept of a dance movie based on Beethoven's world-embracing Ode to Joy Symphony No. 9, it was no surprise that West Virginia artists would play a major role in the project. "Three of the 21 dance groups selected for the movie, and several of the advisors and locations used, are from West Virginia," Tsubata explained. "But that's no  more