TOLEDO, Ohio, Jan. 16 -- The University of Toledo issued the following news: * * * 42nd Annual Toledo Excel Aspiring Youth Conference Scheduled Jan. 31 By Kirk Baird Chamique Holdsclaw, a former basketball superstar whose mental health issues led to a breakdown that she overcame as part of her successful journey to mental wellness, will speak at UToledo's 42nd annual Toledo Excel Aspiring Youth Conference on Saturday, Jan. 31. Maurice Clarett, a star freshman running back at Ohio State Univ  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 [Category: Health Care] -- Ascension, a faith-based healthcare organization, posted the following news release: * * * Ascension Saint Thomas River Park Renovates 10-Bed Unit to Meet Growing Community Needs * Ascension Saint Thomas River Park Hospital has opened a newly renovated 10-bed inpatient unit as part of its ongoing investment in meeting the healthcare needs of the growing McMinnville community. The new unit helps ensure more patients can receive care close to home  more

CLARKSVILLE, Tennessee, Jan. 15 -- Austin Peay State University posted the following news: * * * Austin Peay's Dr. Stephen Kershner wins national award for classics education * Dr. Stephen Kershner, an associate professor of classics at Austin Peay State University, speaks with students during a world languages event on campus in March 2025. | Photo by Sean McCully CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Dr. Stephen Kershner, an associate professor in Austin Peay State University's Department of Languages an  more

BEREA, Kentucky, Jan. 15 -- Berea College issued the following news on Jan. 14, 2026: * * * Berea College's Brushy Fork Leadership Institute Launches Initiative to Strengthen Central Appalachia's Nonprofit Ecosystem Berea College, through its Brushy Fork Leadership Institute, has announced the launch of the Strengthening Central Appalachia's Nonprofit Ecosystem project, funded in part by a $390,410 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission's READY Grants to Grow (G2G) program. This thr  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * Blackburn Leads Colleagues in Introducing Bicameral "Veterans' Bill of Rights Act" * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) introduced the Veterans' Bill of Rights Act, which would ensure veterans are informed of the rights they have under current law across all U.S. Department of Veterans Af  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 15, 2026: * * * Congress Approves FY 2026 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill Today, the U.S. Senate passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act by a vote of 82-15. The legislation, which passed the House of Representatives last week by a vote of 397 to 28, will improve critica  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 15, 2026: * * * Experts Tell Committee AI Presents Greater Risk to Children than Social Media U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, elicited testimony from experts at today's hearing on children's screen time that AI, particularly companion apps,  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- The Independent Women's Voice, an organization that fights for policy solutions for women, posted the following news release: * * * Governor Morrisey Leads Nation as First Governor to Announce Portable Benefits as Key Legislative Priority: West Virginia Legislature Advances Worker Freedom Initiative on Day One Governor Morrisey prioritizes worker freedom as a key issue in 2026 State of the State Address, setting West Virginia on the course to be the next early adopter o  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Rep. Diana Harshbarger, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * Harshbarger, Lee Re-Introduce Legislation to Cut Red Tape for Terminally Ill Americans * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01) and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) re-introduced the Immediate Access for the Terminally Ill Act in the House and Senate respectively, which would remove the burdensome waiting period for terminally ill patients' access to their Social Security   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * ICYMI in The Tennessean: Blackburn Makes Case for Reauthorization of National Quantum Initiative Act * 'In Tennessee, we are well prepared to lead this next revolution in quantum development.' 'By passing the NQIA, Congress can take a bold step to ensure America's 21st century leadership and realize all the incredible benefits of quantum-while ensuring that it can never be used against us by  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tennessee, chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, issued the following news on Jan. 14, 2026: * * * ICYMI: Subcommittee Chairman Ogles in the Washington Examiner: "We Are Already in a Cyberwar. Will We Shape it or Simply Continue Reacting to It?" This week, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN), chairman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, penned an op-ed for the Washington  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- The Independent Women's Voice, an organization that fights for policy solutions for women, posted the following news release on Jan. 14, 2026: * * * West Virginia Legislature Introduces Major Labor Policy Reform Bill to Expand Worker Freedom West Virginia leads region advancing Independent Women's Voluntary Portable Benefits framework * CHARLESTON, WV -- Today, on the first day of West Virginia's legislative session, Senator Patricia Puertas Rucker (Jefferson-16) intr  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Judiciary Committee Advances Assistant Attorney General, Six U.S. Attorneys and Six Judicial Nominations, Along with Bipartisan Foreign Lobbying Bill * WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the following nominations: * Daniel E. Burrows, to be an Assistant Attorney General, by a vote of 12-10; * Megan Blair Benton, to be United States District Judge for the Western Dis  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 15, 2026: * * * Judiciary Committee Advances Assistant Attorney General, Six U.S. Attorneys and Six Judicial Nominations, Along with Bipartisan Foreign Lobbying Bill The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the following nominations: * Daniel E. Burrows, to be an Assistant Attorney General, by a vote of 12-10; * Megan Blair Benton, to be United   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 [Category: Biology] -- The Center for Biological Diversity posted the following news release: * * * Lawsuit Seeks to Protect Rare Appalachian Salamander * CHARLESTON, W.Va. -The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to decide whether to protect the yellow-spotted woodland salamander under the Endangered Species Act. Only a few hundred of the salamanders remain. "These are some of the most imperiled salamanders on the p  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Marshals Service issued the following news release: * * * Memphis Safe Task Force Significant Arrests Jan. 14: 51 Criminal Arrests, 13 Illegal Firearms Seized, 4 Missing Children Recovered * MEMPHIS, TN - Members of the Memphis Safe Task Force Jan. 14 executed 51 criminal arrests, seized 13 illicit firearms and recovered four missing children. Of note: Larry D. Johnson, 36, arrested and charged with possession of marijuana with intent  more

JEFFERSON, Louisiana, Jan. 15 [Category: BizHospital] -- Ochsner Health System issued the following news release: * * * Ochsner LSU Health expands patient care team with three new physicians * MONROE, La. - Ochsner LSU Health is proud to welcome three new p hysicians to its team, expanding access to specialized care in the Monroe area and surrounding communities. Melissa Di Santo, MD, joins as a primary care physician. She will see patients at Ochsner LSU Health - Monroe Medical Center.   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee posted the following news release: * * * RATINGS CHANGE: Alarm Bells are Blaring for Andy Ogles as Cook Political Shifts TN-05 Rating in Democrats' Favor * Today, the Cook Political Report announced that it is shifting its prediction for Tennessee's 5th Congressional District towards Democrats, building on growing momentum and setting the stage for a competitive election in 2026. Cook Political Report noted an ongoing F  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following opening statement on Jan. 15, 2026, at an executive business meeting to vote on 13 executive and judicial nominations: * * * Good morning. On today's agenda, we have 13 nominations listed. This includes seven nominees who the Committee already favorably reported in 2025. Because they remained pending on the floor as the first session of the 119th Congress expired, the ot  more

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Jan. 15 [Category: BizHospital] -- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital issued the following news release: * * * Studies show that less frequent, all-injectable treatment for HIV is safe and preferred by adolescents * Adolescents with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in Botswana, South Africa, Thailand, Uganda and the United States who received the injectable intramuscular antiviral medications cabotegravir and rilpivirine for nearly a year after being switched from da  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wisconsin, chairman of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands, issued the following news release on Jan. 14, 2026: * * * Empowering Commonsense Wildfire Prevention and Response, Celebrating America, and Supporting Rural America Today, the Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a legislative hearing on five bills that standardize wildfire response times, support local acts of patriotism, and aid America's ranchers. Subcommittee Chairman  more

COOKEVILLE, Tennessee, Jan. 15 -- Tennessee Technological University issued the following news release: * * * Tech political science professor speaks at international conference in Azerbaijan * Michael Gunter, a professor of political science at Tennessee Tech University and the institution's longest-serving faculty member, recently traveled to Baku, Azerbaijan, where he spoke at a high-level international conference. Gunter was invited to participate in the international conference "Cultu  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Jan. 16 -- Gov. Bill Lee, R-Tennessee, issued the following news on Jan. 15, 2026: * * * Tennessee's Education Freedom Scholarship Program Enters Second Year with Record Interest, Receives 50,304 Applications So Far Tennessee families encouraged to continue applying for the program through January 30 * Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced that the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) has received more than 50,304 new and renewal applications for Education F  more

GREENVILLE, Tennessee, Jan. 15 -- Tusculum University posted the following news: * * * Tusculum University again providing free income tax return preparation for eligible community members at three places * GREENEVILLE - Completing an income tax return might be one of the least favorite tasks for community members, but Tusculum University is ready to make the process go as smoothly as possible. Brynn Stokes, left, prepares an income tax return at the Meen Center in 2025. Tusculum will a  more

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama, Jan. 16 -- The University of Alabama issued the following news: * * * UAH expands its involvement in JSTOR Digital Stewardship Services as a charter participant By Julie Jansen The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) will join the JSTOR Digital Stewardship Services as a Tier 3 charter program participant, expanding its partnership with JSTOR and helping shape the future of responsible, scalable digital collections stewardship. UAH is a part of the University of Ala  more

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Jan. 16 -- The University of Memphis issued the following news: * * * University of Memphis Ducks Unlimited Class Grows to Include Dual Enrollment Students Launched last Spring semester, the University of Memphis Ducks Unlimited (DU) Class in the Department of Biological Sciences continues to gain momentum and interest from students and now includes University High students through the Dual Enrollment program. As the largest dual enrollment provider in Tennessee, the Dual  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Jan. 15 -- Vanderbilt University Medical Center issued the following news release: * * * Vanderbilt Transplant Center nation's largest after performing record number of solid organ transplants in 2025 Through dramatic growth, the VTC is now the largest transplant center in the country by volume, according to data from the United Network for Organ Sharing. By Matt Batcheldor The Vanderbilt Transplant Center (VTC) performed 960 solid organ transplants in 2025, the most e  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Jan. 16 (TNSjou) -- Vanderbilt University Medical Center issued the following news release: * * * Immunometabolism may be a key to controlling sepsis: study This discovery may lead to new ways to block metabolic changes contributing to excessive and ineffective inflammation, reset the immune system, and bring sepsis under control. By Bill Snyder Metabolic changes that "rewire" part of the immune system can intensify sepsis, the body's dysregulated response to infection  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Jan. 15 (TNSjou) -- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Basic Sciences issued the following news: * * * A more realistic way to study cocaine use could accelerate addiction research You may be surprised to learn that, according to AddictionHelp.com, an estimated 12 percent of American adults (~41 million) have used powder cocaine in their lifetimes. Thankfully, not everyone who partakes develops an addiction, but for the over 50 million Americans who had a cocaine u  more

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, Jan. 15 -- The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression posted the following news release: * * * VICTORY: Jury finds Tennessee high school student's suspension for sharing memes violated the First Amendment * * A Tennessee high school suspended a student after his off-campus posting of satirical Instagram memes about his principal. * FIRE sued, and a jury found the suspension violated the First Amendment. KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 15, 2026 -Two years aft  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * VIDEO: Blackburn Calls for Deporting and Denaturalizing Scammers Amid Growing Fraud Crisis * WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor about the growing fraud crisis, which the Government Accountability Office estimates costs the American people up to $521 billion per year. Senator Blackburn recently introduced the Fraud Accountability Act  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- The White House sent to the Senate on Jan. 13, 2026, the nominations of 66 individuals for positions in the federal government: * * * Ademola Adewale-Sadik, of New York, to be United States Director of the African Development Bank for a term of five years, vice Oren E. Whyche-Shaw. Charlton Allen, of North Carolina, to be General Counsel of the Federal Labor Relations Authority for a term of five years, vice Julia Akins Clark, term expired. Matthew Anderson, of Colorad  more