AUBURN, Alabama, Jan. 25 -- Auburn University issued the following news: * * * Assistant professor of chemical engineering earns $298,000 USDA-NIFA grant to study how plant roots redistribute water By Joe McAdory How do plants survive when water is unevenly distributed in soil? Why do some crops appear to help neighboring plants thrive under extreme conditions? And how can farmers use that knowledge to improve crop performance? Jean Francois Louf, assistant professor in the Department of Ch  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13160) on Jan. 23, 2026. The white paper is written by Congress specialist Jacob R. Straus, research and library services acting head Kathleen E. Marchsteiner and research assistant Jane M. Wright. Here are excerpts: * * * Commemorating the Anniversaries of Natural Disasters: Past Practices and Considerations for Congress Each Congress, some Members typically introduce legisl  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 (TNSFR) -- The Federal Reserve System is reviewing an application from FirstBanc of Alabama Inc., Talladega, to merge with FBDC Financial Corp. indirectly acquiring First Fidelity Bank, both of Fort Payne, Alabama. This proposal was submitted under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 and Regulation Y. These regulations require companies to seek Board approval before acquiring assets, ownership, or voting shares of another bank or bank holding company. The review process ens  more

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama, Jan. 23 -- Samford University issued the following news release: * * * Samford Launches Disability, Health and Physical Activity Minor * Samford University's School of Health Professions has launched a new Disability, Health and Physical Activity minor designed to prepare students to support people with disabilities and expand access to health and physical activity across communities. Co-created by Allison Jackson, PhD, and Susan Wilbanks, PhD, in the Department of Kin  more

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama, Jan. 23 -- Samford University issued the following news release: * * * Scholars of Merit Announced for Fall 2025 Term * The following Cumberland School of Law students qualified as Scholars of Merit and received the CALI Award for the fall 2025 term. The courses in which the students received this recognition are listed as well as the professors who taught the courses in which the students received this recognition. Scholars of Merit Located in the Homewood suburb of  more

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama, Jan. 23 -- Samford University issued the following news release: * * * Step Sing's 76th Edition Ramps Up at Samford with Audience Expected to Eclipse 70,000 * Pi Kappa Phi performs a disco-themed show during the 2025 Step Sing competition at Samford University. Having portrayed the Statue of Liberty and a Girl Scout during previous Step Sing competitions, Samford University junior Reagan Reasonover beams about this year's upcoming tribute to another female American ico  more

DAVIS, California, Jan. 25 (TNSjou) -- The University of California Davis issued the following news: * * * Biologists and Engineers Follow Goopy Clues to Plant-Wilting Bacteria By Andy Fell Slippery, drippy goop makes Ralstonia bacteria devastating killers of plants, causing rapid wilting in tomato, potato and a wide range of other crops, according to new research. The work, published Jan. 22 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, comes from an unusual collaboration between plan  more