Public Policy Tipoffs Involving Tennessee
America First Policy Institute, 12 Co-Signers Issue Letter to Treasury Secretary Bessent
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (TNSletter) -- The America First Policy Institute, with 12 co-signers issued the following letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent:
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Here is the text of the letter:
July 28, 2026
The Honorable Scott Bessent
Secretary of the United States
U.S. Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20220
Re: Student eligibility under Section 25F for children in homeschools, microschools, and other innovative learning settings
Dear Mr. Bessent
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America's Credit Unions, 47 Co-Signers Issues Letter to Senate Leadership
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (TNSletter) -- America's Credit Unions, with 47 co-signers issued the following letter to the Senate leadership:
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Here is the text of the letter:
July 21, 2026
The Honorable John Thune
Majority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
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The Honorable Charles Schumer
Minority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
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Re: Senate Consideration of H.R. 3633, the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025
Dear Leader Thune and Leader Schumer:
On
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American Academy of Pediatrics Urges CMS to Revise Medicaid Community Engagement Rule to Protect Children and Families
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- In response to a federal agency request for information, the following public comment letter was submitted electronically to the regulations.gov site.
AAP Headquarters 345 Park Blvd Itasca, IL 60143 Phone: 630/626-6000 Fax: 847/434-8000 E-mail: kidsdocs@aap.org www.aap.org Reply to AAP Washington Office 601 13th St NW, Suite 400N Washington, DC 20005 Phone: 202/347-8600 E-mail: kids1st@aap.org Executive Committee President Andrew D. Racine, MD, PhD, FAAP President-Elect T
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Baker Donelson Adds Alexandra Neifert to Real Estate Group in Baltimore
MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Aug. 18 -- Baker Donelson, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Baker Donelson Adds Alexandra Neifert to Real Estate Group in Baltimore
Baker Donelson has added Alexandra L. Neifert as a shareholder in the Firm's Baltimore office and a member of the Real Estate Group. Ms. Neifert's practice focuses on commercial real estate transactions and related business matters, including acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, financing, development, construction, and lan
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Belmont University Legal Expert Urges CMS to Revise Medical Frailty Criteria in Medicaid Work Requirements Rule
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- In response to a federal agency request for information, the following public comment letter was submitted electronically to the regulations.gov site.
July 31, 2026
Honorable Mehmet Oz, M.D.
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Attention: CMS-2454-IFC
RE: Medicaid Program; Community Engagement Requirements for Certain Individuals (Interim Final Rule with Comment Period), 91 Fed. Reg. 33348 (June 3, 2026)
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Communities in Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas Challenge Trump Administration's Unlawful Election Conditions on Homeland Security Funding
NEW YORK, Aug. 18 -- Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law posted the following news release on Aug. 17, 2026:
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Communities in Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas Challenge Trump Administration's Unlawful Election Conditions on Homeland Security Funding
The Department of Homeland Security is threatening to withhold anti-terrorism grants to pressure states and local governments into adopting sweeping election changes
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Today, a group of four cities and counties sued t
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Congressman Cohen Announces $2.6 Million in NIH Grants to St. Jude
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release:
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Congressman Cohen Announces $2.6 Million in NIH Grants to St. Jude
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#Research on ALS, caspases and neuroblastomas
WASHINGTON - Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced five National Institutes of Health grants totaling $2,657,819 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. One, for $697,992, from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, is for research on Amyotrophic later
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COSCDA Seeks Clarity and Extended Comment Period on OMB Proposed Federal Financial Assistance Regulation Changes
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 -- In response to a federal agency request for information, the following public comment letter was submitted electronically to the regulations.gov site.
Striving to Build Better Communities
630 Eye Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
T: (202) 293-5820
W: www.coscda.org
Rebecca Frawley Wachtel, Massachusetts, President
Suzanne Barnard, Texas, Vice-President
Kimberly Carter, Georgia, Treasurer
Kent Archer, Tennessee, Secretary
Tess Hembree, Executive Director
J
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Defending Champ Montana State Opens 2026 at No. 1
WACO, Texas, Aug. 17 [Category: Sports] -- The American Football Coaches Association posted the following news:
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Defending Champ Montana State Opens 2026 at No. 1
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Fresh off their second national title in program history, Montana State is the preseason No. 1 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll. The Bobcats will start defense of their title on August 29 as they begin the 2026 on the road at Utah Tech. Right behind MSU at No. 2 is in-state rival Montana. The Grizz start play under the Bobby Ken
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Del Mar College Announces 2026 Recipient of Dr. Aileen Creighton Award for Teaching Excellence
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, Aug. 18 -- Del Mar College issued the following news:
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Del Mar College announces 2026 recipient of Dr. Aileen Creighton Award for Teaching Excellence
Peers select Journalism Professor Robert Muilenburg for coveted DMC faculty recognition, choice based on Muilenburg's long-standing impact on students' successes and careers
Article by Richard Guerrero, Jr.
If Robert Muilenburg's service to Del Mar College (DMC) could be summed up succinctly in one word, that word w
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ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy names General Assembly Hall in honor of historic funding
JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, Aug. 17 -- East Tennessee State University posted the following news:
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ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy names General Assembly Hall in honor of historic funding
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East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy recognized legislators at a luncheon on Friday, Aug. 14, thanking them for their continued support of the college by dedicating a classroom as "General Assembly Hall" to honor their role in securing additional state funding for the college
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Faegre Drinker Issues Commentary: SBA Finalizes Rule Removing Rebuttable Presumption of Social Disadvantage for Individually Owned 8(a) Firms
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, Aug. 18 -- Faegre Drinker Biddle and Reath, a law firm, issued the following commentary on Aug. 17, 2026, by senior counsel John G. Horan, partners Dana B. Pashkoff and Jessica C. Abrahams and associates Michelle Y. Francois and Asher Friedman Young:
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SBA Finalizes Rule Removing Rebuttable Presumption of Social Disadvantage for Individually Owned 8(a) Firms
Final rule takes effect for new and pending applications beginning September 10, 2026
At a Glance
* On Aug
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Forbes Recognizes UT Among Tennessee's Best Employers
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 17 -- The University of Tennessee posted the following news:
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Forbes Recognizes UT Among Tennessee's Best Employers
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The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been named one of the best employers in Tennessee for 2026. The university ranked fifth out of 80 Tennessee companies on Forbes' "America's Best Employers by State" list, released Aug. 14 -placing higher than any other educational institution in the state. UT has appeared on the list every year since
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Georgia State Names Director of Athletic Bands, Associate Director of Bands
ATLANTA, Georgia, Aug. 14 -- Georgia State University issued the following news:
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Georgia State Names Director of Athletic Bands, Associate Director of Bands
The Georgia State University School of Music has named T. Devin Reid (M.Mu. '15) as director of athletic bands and associate director of bands, effective fall 2026. Reid has held both positions on an interim basis since June 2025, and the appointment makes his leadership permanent.
In these roles, Reid leads the Panther Band, condu
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Governor Lee, Tenn. Environment & Conservation Dept. Announce $143,000 Loan for City of Maynardville Water Infrastructure Improvements
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 18 -- The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation issued the following news release on Aug. 17, 2026:
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Governor Lee, TDEC Announce $143,000 Loan for City of Maynardville Water Infrastructure Improvements
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner David Salyers today announced a $143,000 loan for the City of Maynardville to improve water infrastructure.
The City of Maynardville loan comes fr
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Governor Lee, Tenn. Environment & Conservation Dept. Announce $2.4 Million Loan for Town of Pegram Water Infrastructure Improvements
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 18 -- The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation issued the following news release on Aug. 17, 2026:
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Governor Lee, TDEC Announce $2.4 Million Loan for Town of Pegram Water Infrastructure Improvements
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner David Salyers today announced a $2.4 million loan for the Town of Pegram to improve water infrastructure.
The Town of Pegram loan comes from the
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Governor Lee, Tenn. Environment & Conservation Dept. Announce $5 Million Loan for City of Pikeville Water Infrastructure Improvements
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 18 -- The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation issued the following news release on Aug. 17, 2026:
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Governor Lee, TDEC Announce $5 Million Loan for City of Pikeville Water Infrastructure Improvements
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner David Salyers today announced a $5,000,000 loan for the City of Pikeville to improve water infrastructure.
The City of Pikeville loan comes fro
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Governor Lee, Tenn. Environment & Conservation Dept. Announce $75 Million Loan for City of Columbia Water Infrastructure Improvements
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 18 -- The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation issued the following news release on Aug. 17, 2026:
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Governor Lee, TDEC Announce $75 Million Loan for City of Columbia Water Infrastructure Improvements
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner David Salyers today announced a $75 million loan for the City of Columbia to improve water infrastructure.
The City of Columbia loan comes from the
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Groundwork Collaborative President Owens Testifies Before Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism released the following written testimony by Groundwork Collaborative President and CEO Lindsay Owens from an Aug. 4, 2026, hearing entitled "Your Data, Their Profit: The Consumer Cost of AI Surveillance Pricing":
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Chairman Hawley, Ranking Member Durbin, and Members of the Subcommittee,
Thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today on this important topic. My name is Dr. Lindsay Owens. I am
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Harvard Urges Delay of Proposed Federal Grant Rule Changes Citing Risks to Scientific Excellence and Research Stability
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- In response to a federal agency request for information, the following public comment letter was submitted electronically to the regulations.gov site.
Office of the Vice Provost for Research | 1350 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 664, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
July 10, 2026
Mr. Andrew Reisig
Mr. Joel Savary
Office of Management and Budget
725 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20503
Re: Public Comment on OMB 2026-0034
Dear Mr. Reisig and Mr. Savary,
I write on
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Jocko Willink: Finding the "Good" in Leadership
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 17 -- The University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service posted the following news:
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Jocko Willink: Finding the "Good" in Leadership
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By: Marc Alley
Published: 08/17/2026
One of my favorite authors who talks about leadership is Jocko Willink. I have read and listened to several of his thoughts on leadership, but one message that has always stood out to me is his speech called "GOOD." It is a very simple message, but I believe it says a lot about lead
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Lipscomb University sets first-day enrollment record as fall 2026 semester classes begin
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 17 -- Lipscomb University posted the following news:
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Lipscomb University sets first-day enrollment record as fall 2026 semester classes begin
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Record enrollment, strong retention and growing national recognition highlight continued momentum for the university
As fall semester classes begin today, Lipscomb University is marking its 135th year with a new enrollment record as first-day figures indicate the largest Day 1 total enrollment in university history
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Mercer announces lineup for 2026 Ford Football Concert Series
ATLANTA, Georgia, Aug. 17 -- Mercer University posted the following news:
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Mercer announces lineup for 2026 Ford Football Concert Series
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Nashville songwriter Conner Smith will be joined by fellow rising country music superstar Micah Fletcher on Aug. 29 to kick off Mercer University's Ford Football Concert Series.
The Ford Football Concert Series, which will celebrate its eighth season in the fall, gives Mercer football faithful the opportunity to enjoy live music from a variety of na
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Mocs flock home as a new semester takes flight
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee, Aug. 17 -- The University of Tennessee Chattanooga Campus posted the following news:
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Mocs flock home as a new semester takes flight
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Students in McKenzie Arena attend the 2025 Convocation. Photo by Angela Foster.
With the start of the semester just around the corner, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is preparing to welcome students back before classes start.
Students staying on campus will return to campus during Operation Move In (OMI) on Aug. 19 a
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More than 210 leading medical, health and patient advocacy groups oppose recent Executive Order on childhood vaccines
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, Aug. 17 [Category: Medical] -- The American College of Physicians posted the following news release:
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More than 210 leading medical, health and patient advocacy groups oppose recent Executive Order on childhood vaccines
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"Our organizations, representing physicians, nurses, medical professionals, scientists, pharmacists, public health, patients and families, are alarmed by the recent White House Executive Order that advises, without evidence, reducing and spa
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More than 210 Leading Medical, Health and Patient Advocacy Groups Oppose Recent Executive Order on Childhood Vaccines
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Aug. 17 [Category: Psychiatry/Psychology] -- The American Psychiatric Association issued the following news release:
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More than 210 Leading Medical, Health and Patient Advocacy Groups Oppose Recent Executive Order on Childhood Vaccines
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Our organizations, representing physicians, nurses, medical professionals, scientists, pharmacists, public health, patients and families, are alarmed by the recent White House Executive Order that advises, without evidence, reducing
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MTSU Alumni Association names 2026-27 alumni awards, citation recipients
MURFREESBORO, Tennessee, Aug. 17 -- Middle Tennessee State University posted the following news:
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MTSU Alumni Association names 2026-27 alumni awards, citation recipients
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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -Middle Tennessee State University's alumni continue to embody their vibrant True Blue spirit long after departing their campus home.
The university's Alumni Association celebrates these successes annually with the Alumni Association Awards, naming this year's recipients for demonstrating excell
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NASTAD Urges CMS to Rescind Medicaid Community Engagement Rule That Threatens Continuous Care for People With HIV and Viral Hepatitis
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- In response to a federal agency request for information, the following public comment letter was submitted electronically to the regulations.gov site.
444 North Capitol Street NW, Suite 339 Washington, DC 20001 (202) 434.8090 | NASTAD.org
Officers
Chair Maria Jackson, Colorado
Vice-Chair Thaddeus Pham, Hawaii
Secretary Stella Martin , New Mexico
Treasurer Tom Dunn, Michigan Chair-Elect Samuel Burgess, Louisiana
Immediate Past-Chair Sarah Braunstein, New York Ci
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Paranthaman named R&D World Researcher of the Year
OAK RIDGE, Tennessee, Aug. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory issued the following news release:
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Paranthaman named R&D World Researcher of the Year
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M. Parans Paranthaman, an expert in solid-state chemistry and materials science at the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), has been named R&D World's 2026 Researcher of the Year. The honor recognizes his career translating fundamental materials research into practical techn
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READY Program Offers College Experience to Students with Disabilities
OXFORD, Mississippi, Aug. 17 -- The University of Mississippi posted the following news:
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READY Program Offers College Experience to Students with Disabilities
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OXFORD, Miss. - The line of cars along Rebel Drive outside Burns Hall looked like any other freshman move-in day at the University of Mississippi, but this one in June was different, the first of its kind at Ole Miss.
As families unloaded suitcases, upholstered headboards, bedside storage towers, pillows, totes and boxes, 13
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Records made to be broken: VU Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization posts another year of strong innovation outcomes
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 17 -- Vanderbilt University posted the following news release:
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Records made to be broken: VU Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization posts another year of strong innovation outcomes
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Vanderbilt's Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization closed out fiscal 2025 with a record number of invention disclosures and one of its busiest years for licensing. In FY26, the team raised the bar even higher.
In FY26, CTTC processed 267 new inventio
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Roane State inks articulation agreements with MTSU for aerospace and fire science pathways
MURFREESBORO, Tennessee, Aug. 17 -- Middle Tennessee State University posted the following news:
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Roane State inks articulation agreements with MTSU for aerospace and fire science pathways
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HARRIMAN, Tenn. -Roane State and Middle Tennessee State University have signed articulation agreements partnering with Tennessee Flight Training and supporting streamlined transfer opportunities for students pursuing two of the community college's newest offerings -aerospace and fire science.
Presi
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Ron Machen Receives National Bar Association's Sankofa Award
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- WilmerHale, a law firm, posted the following news:
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Ron Machen Receives National Bar Association's Sankofa Award
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Partner Ron Machen was honored with the National Bar Association's (NBA) prestigious Sankofa Award during the Closing Gala of the organization's 101st Annual Convention, held July 25-31, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Established by the National Bar Association in 2005, the Sankofa Award honors individuals whose leadership p
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Tech alum's student internship in Japan leads to travel writing, entrepreneurial life
COOKEVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 17 -- Tennessee Technological University issued the following news release:
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Tech alum's student internship in Japan leads to travel writing, entrepreneurial life
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When Tennessee Tech University alumna Whitney Hassell O'Halek boarded a plane for Japan as a communication student, she had no way of knowing the trip would alter the course of her life.
"I will always be grateful for that opportunity because that changed the entire trajectory of my life," O'Hale
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Tennessee woman asks court to void ban on dolphin-assisted therapy issued by unconstitutionally appointed official
SACRAMENTO, California, Aug. 17 [Category: Law/Legal] -- The Pacific Legal Foundation issued the following news release:
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Tennessee woman asks court to void ban on dolphin-assisted therapy issued by unconstitutionally appointed official
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Nashville, Tennessee; August 17, 2026: A Tennessee woman filed a lawsuit on Friday challenging a federal rule that blocks access to dolphin-assisted therapy in Hawaii. Catherine Gatzimos alleges that the rule, which bans swimming with or approaching Ha
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TSU Welcomes Record Influx of Students During High-Energy Move-In Week
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 17 -- Tennessee State University posted the following news:
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TSU Welcomes Record Influx of Students During High-Energy Move-In Week
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) - The atmosphere across the campus was nothing short of electric this week. Music echoed near residence halls, golf carts zoomed across campus lawns loaded with suitcases, and smiles as hundreds of incoming Big Blue Tigers officially made TSU their new home. The annual move-in tradition was sp
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UC Foundation Professor in the Department of Biology, Geology, and Environmental Science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Warns Proposed Federal Funding Changes Threaten Peer Review Integrity International Collaboration and Scientific Progress
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- In response to a federal agency request for information, the following public comment letter was submitted electronically to the regulations.gov site.
My name is Dr. Tim Gaudin. I am UC Foundation Professor in the Department of Biology, Geology, and Environmental Science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where I have worked for the past 32 years, and a multiple grant awardee from the National Science Foundation. I have worked in the area of mammalian systemat
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UMass Amherst Engineers Make Edge AI More Efficient by Redesigning Both Algorithm and Hardware
AMHERST, Massachusetts, Aug. 17 -- The University of Massachusetts posted the following news:
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UMass Amherst Engineers Make Edge AI More Efficient by Redesigning Both Algorithm and Hardware
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Researchers in the Riccio College of Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have demonstrated that redesigning both the hardware and the algorithm can make AI applications on edge devices more efficient. As proof of concept, their system achieved 95.24% accuracy in language identifi
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United Campus Workers Southeast Union Opposes OMB Proposed Rule Threatening Federal Research Funding and Scientific Integrity
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 -- In response to a federal agency request for information, the following public comment letter was submitted electronically to the regulations.gov site.
RE: Docket OMB-2026-0034
Comment on OMB Proposed Rule on Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance
United Campus Workers Southeast (UCWSE) Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 3821 opposes the OMB Proposed Rule on Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance. We are a wall-to-wall union representing over five th
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University of Tennessee-Martin: Coon Creek Marks 100 Years Since Breakout Publication
MARTIN, Tennessee, Aug. 17 -- The University of Tennessee Martin campus issued the following news:
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Coon Creek marks 100 years since breakout publication
In the summer of 1915, a young geologist from Trenton named Bruce Wade discovered a huge fossil site at Coon Creek on the Dave Weeks farm in McNairy County, perhaps Wade's crowning achievement after years of fossil discoveries throughout southwestern Tennessee in the early part of the 20th century.
A paper written by Wade, "The Fauna o
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What Tennessee educators are saying in 2026: New reports for educators and policymakers
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 17 -- Vanderbilt University posted the following news release:
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What Tennessee educators are saying in 2026: New reports for educators and policymakers
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Following the June release of the 2026 Tennessee Educator Survey results, the Tennessee Education Research Alliance (TERA) at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development is publishing a series of briefs and snapshots throughout late summer and fall exploring what Tennessee educators said abo
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WKU President delivers annual Convocation address
BOWLING GREEN, Kentucky, Aug. 17 -- Western Kentucky University posted the following news:
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WKU President delivers annual Convocation address
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President Timothy C. Caboni presented the Spirit of WKU Award to Dr. Corinne Murphy. WKU Photo by Katie Corbin.
Western Kentucky University President Timothy C. Caboni officially opened the institution's 120th academic year today during the annual Faculty and Staff Convocation in Van Meter Auditorium. The event provides an opportunity for facul
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