SACRAMENTO, California, Dec. 19 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: Governor Gavin Newsom today proclaimed a State of Emergency to streamline and expedite the state's response to Avian influenza A (H5N1), commonly known as "Bird Flu." This action comes as cases were detected in dairy cows on farms in Southern California, signaling the need to further expand monitoring and build on the coordinated statewide approach to contain and mitigate the   more

MANHATTAN, Kansas, Dec. 19 (TNSres) -- Kansas State University issued the following news release: Kansas State University scientists are collaborating with colleagues in Iowa, Nebraska and Arkansas to advance weather intelligence, strengthen climate resilience and address the impacts of environmental change in agriculture-based communities. Xiaomao Lin, professor of agronomy and state climatologist for Kansas, and Abigail Langston, assistant professor of geography, are leading K-State's partic  more

TOPEKA, Kansas, Dec. 19 -- Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach issued the following news release on Dec. 17, 2024: Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach today announced a list of 32 Kansas organizations that will receive more than $8.5 million in grant awards from the Kansas Fights Addiction Grant Review Board. The grants mark the third round of funding from the board and will support substance use disorder services across the state. Funding for the grants comes from money recovered by the Attor  more

TOPEKA, Kansas, Dec. 19 -- Gov. Laura Kelly, D-Kansas, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: Governor Laura Kelly announced on Wednesday that 14 Kansas rail projects will receive a total of $13 million through the Kansas Department of Transportation's (KDOT) Rail Service Improvement Program (RSIP). "These projects reflect the diverse needs faced by our Kansas communities and rail operators," Governor Laura Kelly said. "By bolstering the state's rail network, we will promote econ  more

TOPEKA, Kansas, Dec. 19 -- The Kansas Department of Agriculture issued the following news release: The Kansas Department of Agriculture has identified highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in two game bird operations -- one in Doniphan County and one in Rooks County. These mark the first commercial operations with HPAI in Kansas since early spring of 2024, although the virus has been confirmed this fall in wild birds across the state and some backyard flocks. KDA is working with the operati  more

COLUMBIA, South Carolina, Dec. 19 -- South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued the following news on Dec. 18, 2024: South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson co-led a 23-state brief filed today with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit aimed at protecting students' First Amendment right to free speech. The case is about a school district in Ohio that adopted policies requiring everyone to use students' preferred pronouns. A group of parents challenged the policies but los  more

COLUMBIA, South Carolina, Dec. 19 -- South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued the following news on Dec. 18, 2024: South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson co-led a 25-state brief filed today in federal court to protect small businesses and uphold states' authority to regulate the formation of corporations. The brief asks the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold a ruling by a lower court that the Corporate Transparency Act is unconstitutional. "Right before Christmas, the federa  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Dec. 19 -- Gov. Bill Lee, R-Tennessee, issued the following news on Dec. 18, 2024: * * * Lee leads bipartisan coalition of 33 governors in letter to the Biden Administration * * * Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee led a bipartisan coalition of 33 governors in urging President Biden to act following a decision to halt foreign adoptions by The People's Republic of China (PRC). The suspension of China's intercountry adoption program has indefinitely delayed the adoptions of more tha  more

LAWRENCE, Kansas, Dec. 18 (TNSres) -- The University of Kansas issued the following news: By Jon Niccum In some respects, attitudes regarding mental health stigma have steadily improved. However, according to new research, even individuals with helpful motivations often harbor hurtful biases. "There are those who are very explicit in their mistreatment of people with mental illness. But there are also those who have really good intentions about treating people with mental illness well and yet  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Dec. 19 -- The Virginia Department of Health issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2024: * * * Nationwide Search Yields State Director with Extensive Experience in EMS and Fire Services to Lead Virginia's EMS System * * * The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is pleased to announce that Maria Beermann-Foat, PhD, NRP, will be the new director of the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS). VDH conducted a nationwide search to fill this key leadershi  more