WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The Appalachian Regional Commission issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2024: * * * The awards will advance Appalachia's capabilities to establish a regional energy hub for hydrogen produced from natural gas feedstocks. * * * Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) awarded nearly $4.7 million to three projects through its Appalachian Regional Energy Hub Initiative. The awards will support activities to implement a hydrogen energy hub from natural gas  more

MONTEREY, California, Dec. 19 -- The Naval Postgraduate School's Center for Homeland Defense and Security issued the following story: West Virginia Fusion Center Deputy Director Steven Patterson has been appointed to serve on his state's Governor's Task Force on AI in State Government. The Center for Homeland Defense and Security alum represents the state's fusion center on the 14-member task force, which is comprised of a mix of representatives from the public and private sectors. Patterson   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Education issued a notice of membership in the Federal Register on Dec. 10, 2024, entitled "National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity". Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY: This notice lists the members of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI). This notice is required under section 114(e)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NACIQI's  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Virginia, issued the following news release: The U.S. House of Representatives completed passage of the American Relief Act. This legislation keeps the government funded through March and includes disaster relief supplemental funds. After voting in favor of the American Relief Act to fund the government and bring much-needed disaster relief aid to areas devastated by Hurricane Helene, like Southwest Virginia, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), celebrated the Senate's passage of their bipartisan Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act, legislation to improve the permitting process for outfitters, educational organizations, and community groups to access public land. The legislation was included in the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPL  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service issued a proposed rule in the Federal Register on Dec. 13, 2024, entitled "Endangered Species Status for Eastern Hellbender". Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the eastern hellbender ( Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis), a salamander subspecies from Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Y  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (I-WV) released the following statement wishing West Virginians a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. "On behalf of Gayle, myself and the entire Manchin family, we wish all West Virginians and Americans a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. This holiday season, Gayle and I are reminded of the importance of family. What makes West Virginia unique is that we are truly a st  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The Naval Sea Systems Command issued the following news: Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) employee Dr. Phillip Burnside was first introduced to NSWC Crane in 2008 as the commanding officer of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Reserve unit. In his role as commanding officer, Dr. Burnside supported many efforts including identifying the cause of the shock test failure of the remote-operated small arms mount (ROSAM) weapons system and developin  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Dec. 20 -- West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner issued the following news release: WV Secretary of State Mac Warner reports that West Virginia's November 5, 2024 General Election is now complete with all 55 counties reporting their official results. The overall turnout rate among active voters exceeded 66%. The voter turnout rate for all registered voters, including the more than 91,000 voters in "inactive" status, was over 63%, which is the second highest WV   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release: Today, Senator Joe Manchin III (I-WV), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, spoke on the Senate floor to celebrate the Senate passage of his bill to name approximately 2,700 acres of land along the Blackwater River in memory of Patsye Crites. The Senate agreed to the naming measure by unanimous consent late Tuesd  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Sen. Tom Carper, D-Delaware, chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the EPW Committee, celebrated unanimous Senate passage of S.3791, the America's Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization (ACE) Act of 2024. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill o  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2024: Yesterday, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, spoke on the Senate floor about the bipartisan Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA), which passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 399-18,   more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Dec. 20 -- The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2024: The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia today announced Deputy Administrative Director Keith Hoover will become Administrative Director for the state's unified court system effective Jan. 1, 2025. Hoover will replace Joe Armstrong, who is retiring Dec. 31. Armstrong has served in the role since 2019. "My fellow Justices and I appreciate the outstanding wor  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Dec. 20 -- Gov. Jim Justice, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2024: Gov. Jim Justice announced today that the West Virginia Economic Development Authority has approved $75 million to support Nucor Corporation's additional $800 million investment in its new Mason County sheet mill. This brings Nucor's total commitment to $3.5 billion, marking the largest economic development investment in both state and company history. The funding from t  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Dec. 20 -- The West Virginia Department of Health issued the following news: The West Virginia Department of Health's (DH) Office of Emergency Medical Services is proud to announce significant updates and continued success in the statewide efforts to advance emergency medical care. Under Governor Jim Justice's leadership, West Virginia is the first state to implement comprehensive statewide protocols for administering whole blood on ambulances. This pioneering initiat  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Dec. 20 -- West Virginia State Treasurer Riley Moore issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2024: State Treasurer Riley Moore today marked the 10th anniversary of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, which provided a groundbreaking financial tool for eligible people with disabilities across the country. "This critical savings program provides individuals with disabilities the ability to achieve financial independence without the risk of losing es  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Dec. 20 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2024: Terrence Jay Mason, 31, of Charleston, was sentenced today to seven years and four months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, in April 2023, Mason sold a total of approximately 74 grams of me  more

BECKLEY, West Virginia, Dec. 20 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2024: Evann Robinson, 40, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to eight years and four months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 9, 2023, Robinson sold a controlled substance containing methamphetamine to   more

CLARKSBURG, West Virginia, Dec. 14 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia issued the following news release on Dec. 16, 2024: Michael Robinson-Brown, 26, of Detroit, Michigan, admitted today to the distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, Robinson-Brown was one of the leaders of a drug trafficking organization operating in Monongalia County. Robinson-Brown would supply the methamphetamine to others to sel  more

BECKLEY, West Virginia, Dec. 20 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2024: Mannie Lamar Terry, also known as "Primo" and "J," 37, of Ypsilanti, Michigan, was sentenced today to two years and one month in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 27, 2023, Terry sold approximately 4.5 grams   more