RICHMOND, Virginia, Dec. 12 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news: * * * As some Cheetos lose their old orange, will PepsiCo be stained? * By Leila Ugincius Earlier this year, food companies began phasing out artificial dyes and sweeteners from their products at the behest of the Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers of chocolates, cereals and soda have agreed to introduce synthetic-free lines of some of their most iconic brands. You may not notice the diffe  more

FRONT ROYAL, Virginia, Dec. 12 -- Christendom College posted the following news: * * * Christendom Students Join Leading Scholars at Notre Dame Fall Conference * More than 20 Christendom College students, along with faculty and staff, made the trek from Front Royal, Virginia, to Indiana last month to attend the University of Notre Dame's Center for Ethics and Culture Fall Conference. This year marked the tenth time Christendom students have attended the annual event, which provides them with  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Dec. 12 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news: * * * Class of 2025: Chelsea Rushbrook finds, and shares, success in recovery * By Joan Tupponce Chelsea Rushbrook is celebrating two milestones this season. November marked her sixth year in recovery. And this month, that journey - which sparked her interest in psychology and led her to Virginia Commonwealth University - will add another highlight as she earns her undergraduate degree at age 37. "  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Dec. 12 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news: * * * Class of 2025: Rawan Elbanna wastes no time * By Sian Wilkerson Rawan Elbanna has always been ahead of schedule. At 17, she finished high school a year before most of her peers. Now, not even three years later, Elbanna - a double-major in criminal justice and homeland security and emergency preparedness - is completing her bachelor's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University's L. Douglas Wi  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news: * * * Cook Political Report: "Democrats See Affordability as Their Path Back to a Majority of Governors" * After two landslide victories in Virginia and New Jersey, Cook Political Report released a new analysis detailing how Democratic governors and candidates for governor across the country remain focused on the economy and affordability. See below for more. Cook Political Report: Democrats See Affordab  more

FAIRFAX, Virginia, Dec. 11 -- George Mason University issued the following news: * * * George Mason and UVA researchers look into the future of hydrogen sensors * As the use of underwater, aerial, and unmanned ground vehicles continues to grow, it is critical that the fuel cells necessary to power these systems operate safely, while providing durable and optimal performance. High-performance hydrogen sensors, which monitor leakage, energy efficiency, and durability under a wide range of oper  more

HAMPTON, Virginia, Dec. 13 -- Hampton University issued the following news: * * * Hampton University Department of Physical Therapy Announces 2025-26 Lilly Foundation Scholarship Recipients Six exceptional doctoral students from the Hampton University Department of Physical Therapy have been selected as recipients of the 2025-2026 Lilly Foundation Scholarship in Physical Therapy. The scholars -- Gwendolyn Brown, GianPaul Reynoso, Raven Brown, Nakiyah Johnson, Caira Fields, and Marco-Raphael   more

FAIRFAX, Virginia, Dec. 11 -- George Mason University issued the following news: * * * How you eat may be connected to how you sleep * The average adult should get a minimum of seven hours of sleep daily, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations. An estimated 50 to 70 million Americans are diagnosed with a sleep disorder (ex., sleep apnea, insomnia) that prevents optimal sleep outcomes, and what we eat may play a role. A study by George Mason University regis  more

MIAMI, Florida, Dec. 12 -- The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine posted the following news: * * * Learning to Fly: Public Health, Emergency Medicine and the U.S. Navy * University of Miami Miller School of Medicine M.D./M.P.H. student Rebecca Soistmann hopes to move from medical school to U.S. Navy emergency medicine. When Rebecca Soistmann was a global public health student at the University of Virginia, she realized that health and medicine involve far more than science alone  more

WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia, Dec. 12 -- William and Mary issued the following news: * * * Making chemistry greener * Industrial chemical synthesis the reactions that create everything from medicines to soaps to fertilizers generate huge quantities of solvent waste each year. In the U.S. alone, around 24 billion pounds of solvent waste was generated in 2024, according to an Environmental Protection Agency tracker. Some of these solvents the liquid medium within which reactions are performed are co  more

MCLEAN, Virginia, Dec. 13 -- Mars Inc., a manufacturer of snacks, food and pet care products and services issued the following news release: * * * Mars Completes Acquisition of Kellanova Transaction unites two iconic businesses with portfolios of beloved brands Mars Snacking poised to shape the future of snacking and serve more consumers globally * Mars, Incorporated, a family-owned, global leader in pet care, snacking and food, is pleased to announce the successful completion of its acqui  more

HUNTINGTON, West Virginia, Dec. 12 -- Marshall University posted the following news release: * * * Marshall extends Direct Admit program to Jackson County * Marshall University announced today that it has expanded its Direct Admit program to Jackson County, West Virginia, welcoming a new group of students into the initiative designed to reduce barriers to higher education. Jackson County becomes the ninth school district to join the growing Direct Admit effort, which simplifies the path to  more

FAIRFAX, Virginia, Dec. 11 -- George Mason University issued the following news: * * * Q&A with Ali Reza Manouchehri, Winter Commencement 2025 Speaker * MetroStar co-founder and chief executive officer Ali Manouchehri, BA Philosophy '99, is the featured speaker at George Mason University's Winter Commencement on December 18. Here he talks about his George Mason experience, his company's partnership with the university, and his advice for new graduates. Are there any lessons or experiences  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Dec. 12 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news: * * * Stephen Kates named School of Medicine's interim dean * By VCU News staff Stephen Kates, M.D., a professor for a decade at Virginia Commonwealth University, will serve as the interim dean of the VCU School of Medicine and interim executive vice president of medical affairs for VCU Health System, effective Dec. 24. Kates is professor and chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in the Sc  more

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, Dec. 12 -- The University of Virginia School of Law issued the following news: * * * The Lawyers Breathing Life Into AI Alumni, Recent Graduates and Professors Explore How Artificial Intelligence Is Shaping the Legal Profession By Melissa Castro Wyatt Artificial intelligence has entered the legal world with the confidence befitting a first-year associate eager to make a mark. AI's believers envision leaner firms, shorter hours and lower costs. Critics see risk i  more

BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Dec. 13 -- VCOM - Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine issued the following news: * * * VCOM Student Celeste Prado Honored with National Hispanic Health Foundation Scholarship By James Nichols First-year VCOM-Carolinas student Celeste Prado was recently honored in Washington, DC, after receiving a National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF) Scholarship--an award recognizing future health professionals committed to improving Hispanic and underserved communities. Pr  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Dec. 12 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news: * * * VCU Center on Society and Health partners to help U.S. cities close life expectancy gaps * By Maggie Christ Virginia Commonwealth University's Center on Society and Health, the Big Cities Health Coalition and the Boston Public Health Commission announced an award of $1.5 million from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to create a national network focused on equitable health outcomes. The pro  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Dec. 13 -- West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner issued the following news release on Dec. 12, 2025: * * * Secretary Warner announces that WVSOS Finance Specialist Richard Stricklen has been selected as WV-NIGP Procurement Specialist of the Year WV Secretary of State Kris Warner is proud to announce that Finance Specialist and Procurement Officer, Richard Stricklen, has been named the 2025 Procurement Specialist of The Year by the WV Chapter of the National In  more