NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- The American Civil Liberties Union, a 501(c)3 non-profit that works to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the U.S., issued the following news release: Attorneys for the ACLU of Rhode Island and the state Department of Human Services have agreed on language to form the basis of a temporary restraining order against the Department's continued use of procedurally deficient notices that have demanded SNAP recipient  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 26 -- The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued the following news release: * * * - Invitation to Comment seeks additional stakeholder input on proposed CPA Exam changes by April 30, 2020 * * * The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) published an Exposure Draft and Invitation to Comment following the completion of a months-long Uniform CPA Examination (Exam) practice analysis. The project focused on the impact data analytics and technology have on the role o  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- The American National Standards Institute issued the following news release: The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) was very pleased to host Sergio Mujica, Secretary-General of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), at ANSI's headquarters in Washington, DC, on December 10, 2019. The meeting, which marked Mr. Mujica's fifth visit to ANSI since he became Secretary-General in 2017, highlighted a number of strategic issues of importance to both ANSI  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 28 -- The American National Standards Institute issued the following news release: The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) proudly welcomes 6 new members in December 2019. Birket Engineering (http://www.birket.com/). CMH Services CyberLawfare, LLC Paradigm Manufacturing (https://paradigmanufacturing.com/). Spin (https://www.spin.app/). Teledyne Scientific and Imaging (http://www.teledyne-si.com/). These organizations joined a federation that represents and serves   more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- The American National Standards Institute issued the following news release: During a recent visit to Washington, DC, Eddy Njoroge, President-Elect of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), highlighted and acknowledged the critical role that the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) plays as the U.S. member body to ISO. ANSI's president and CEO S. Joe Bhatia invited Mr. Njoroge to the ANSI Board of Directors meeting on December 4, 2019. Mr. Njorog  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- The American National Standards Institute issued the following news release: The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), through its public-private partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Standards Alliance, organized a one-day workshop on biofuel standards for household cooking and transportation in Maputo, Mozambique, on November 14, 2019. This event was led by the founders of Garner Advisors, and in coordination with th  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- The American Jewish Committee issued the following news release: In the context of a growing regional focus on interfaith understanding and increasingly open contact between key Arab states and Israel, an AJC leadership delegation concluded eight days of consultations with senior government officials, policy analysts, business executives, U.S. diplomats, journalists and other interlocutors in three Arabian Gulf states. The group's talks carried forward a 25-year-plus histor  more

BUFFALO, New York, Dec. 24 -- Catholic Charities of Buffalo issued the following news release: Following an extensive five month search by the Board of Trustees, Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Buffalo and Chair of the Board of Catholic Charities of Buffalo, announces the appointment of Deacon Steve Schumer as the organization's new President and CEO, effective Jan. 6, 2020. Deacon Schumer succeeds retiring President and CEO Dennis C. Walczyk, who joi  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 -- The Center for Auto Safety issued the following news release: The Center for Auto Safety sent letters to the city governments of Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Houston, New York City, and Los Angeles, and the state governments of Maryland and Michigan, urging regulators to bar taxis with unrepaired recalls from operating in their jurisdictions. These seven cities and Michigan and Maryland, which regulate Detroit and Baltimore's taxis, respectively, represent   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities issued the following blog: New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed a bill that lets residents who are undocumented obtain driver's licenses, giving access to nearly 450,000 such residents and providing for safer roads, fewer uninsured drivers, more state revenue, and greater mobility for families in their daily lives. New Jersey is now the 15th state in addition to the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to provide driver's l  more

COLD SPRING HARBOR, New York, Dec. 24 -- The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory issued the following news: Farmers could soon be growing tomatoes bunched like grapes in a storage unit, on the roof of a skyscraper, or even in space. That's if a clutch of new gene-edited crops prove as fruitful as the first batch. The primary goal of this new research is to engineer a wider variety of crops that can be grown in urban environments or other places not suitable for plant growth, said Cold Spring Harbor   more

COLD SPRING HARBOR, New York, Dec. 27 -- The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory issued the following news: In this age of "big data," artificial intelligence (AI) has become a valuable ally for scientists. Machine learning algorithms, for instance, are helping biologists make sense of the dizzying number of molecular signals that control how genes function. But as new algorithms are developed to analyze even more data, they also become more complex and more difficult to interpret. Quantitative biolo  more

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, New Jersey, Dec. 27 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued the following news release: The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), the state office of the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, announced that Selaedin Maksut has been named as its new Executive Director. Before joining CAIR-New Jersey, Maksut received his BA from New York University in Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies, and his MA from Col  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 25 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued the following news release: The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a leading Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, condemned the allegedly bias-motivated attack on an Orthodox Jewish man in Manhattan. According to reports, Yester, a 55-year-old Orthodox Jewish man wearing a black yarmulke was punched in the face after he heard someone yell "(expletive removed) you Jew (expletive  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 20 -- The Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres issued the following statement: * * * - Inclusion of vaccine on list of WHO prequalified products ensures protection against a leading cause of death of children worldwide * * * The World Health Organization (WHO) has just added a third pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) to its list of approved medical products to prevent one of the leading causes of death of children under five worldwide. The vaccine, manufactured by the Seru  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- The Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres issued the following news: More than 280,000 people have contracted measles and at least 5,700 have died from the disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) this year--the largest outbreak the country has experienced in decades. The World Health Organization (WHO) says this is the largest measles epidemic in the world. According to a survey by Epicentre--MSF's research arm--these figures represent a fraction of the  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 17 -- The Drug Policy Alliance issued the following statement by Maritza Perez, director of office of national affairs, in response to the fiscal 2020 spending bill: "We're encouraged that Congress has heeded our call to block the extension of the emergency fentanyl 'class-wide' ban from getting into the appropriations package, which would have resurrected policies reminiscent of the crack-cocaine era and further enshrined a drug war that continues to fuel large-scale injustice.  more

NEW ROCHELLE, New York, Dec. 28 -- The Election Law Journal, a journal that says it covers election reform, contested elections, redistricting and reappointment, election monitoring, campaign finance regulation, voting technology, regulation of political parties, ballot access, initiatives and other ballot propositions, voting rights, term limits, internet and political campaigns, Lobbying and ethics reform, published research articles, including the following topics, in its December 2019 editio  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- EMILY's List issued the following statement: Today, EMILY's List, the nation's largest resource for women in politics, endorsed Tedra Cobb for Congress in New York's 21st Congressional District. Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY's List, released the following statement: "EMILY's List is proud to stand alongside Tedra Cobb, a passionate activist for expanding access to health care, in her race for Congress. "As a member of the St. Lawrence County Legislature, Tedra   more

ALBANY, New York, Dec. 17 -- Environmental Advocates of New York issued the following statement: * * * - 2022 Ban Includes Plastic Packing Peanuts * * * As part of his 2020 State of the State preview, Governor Cuomo announced a proposal that would ban single-use polystyrene food containers and plastic packing peanuts beginning in 2022. The following response can be attributed to Kate Kurera, Deputy Director of Environmental Advocates of New York: "Every single-use polystyrene food contain  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 20 -- Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a campaign of Everytown for Gun Safety, issued the following news: Virginia's Attorney General Mark Herring issued an advisory opinion on the rise of so-called 'Second Amendment sanctuary counties' in Virginia, saying the resolutions passed by localities across Virginia declaring themselves exempt from gun safety laws have "no legal effect." In addition, he determined that localities "cannot nullify state laws" and are required t  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- The Counter Extremism Project issued the following news release: * * * - Christchurch terror video located on internet archive, white supremacists call for violence in Virginia * * * The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) reports weekly on the methods used by extremists to exploit the Internet and social media platforms to recruit followers and incite violence. This week, ISIS released a new video on multiple websites declaring its strength in Iraq. Additionally, video of t  more

MANHASSET, New York, Dec. 24 -- Feinstein Institute for Medical Research issued the following news release: * * * - Dr. Thomas Chaly pushes for approval of imaging agent to combat Parkinson's * * * The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for a new Positron Emission Tomography (PET) drug to combat Parkinson's disease. Fluorodopa F 18 Injection (NDA 200655) will help visualize dopaminergic nerve terminals in the striatum for the  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Dec. 19 -- Fight for the Future, an advocacy group for digital rights, issued the following statement: * * * - Activists will be ready to fight to make sure there are no loopholes for ISPs to abuse * * * New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced plans to introduce "the strongest net neutrality protections in the United States." Leading digital rights group Fight for the Future, which has been behind the largest online protests for net neutrality in history, issued the f  more

NEW ROCHELLE, New York, Dec. 27 -- The Games for Health Journal, a peer-reviewed journal that says it features impact of game research, technologies and applications on human health and well-being, published research articles, including the following topics, in its December 2019 edition: * Acute Effects of Aerobic Exercise and Active Videogames on Cognitive Flexibility, Reaction Time, and Perceived Exertion in Older Adults * Autonomous Use of the Home Virtual Rehabilitation System: A Feasibili  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news release: The Indian authorities should cease using unnecessary lethal force against demonstrators protesting a law that discriminates against Muslims, Human Rights Watch said. Since protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act began on December 12, 2019, at least 25 people have been killed and hundreds have been arrested. Police have used excessive force only against demonstrators protesting the law, including many students. A  more

HUNTINGTON, New York, Dec. 24 -- Northwell Health issued the following news: * * * - Proceeds go to the Northwell Health Cancer Institute at Huntington * * * Four hundred people danced the night away and rocked out at The Paramount during Huntington Hospital's rebranded gala, THE Social, which raised more than $450,000 for the hospital's future cancer center in Greenlawn. Dominick Catoggio, Jim Condron, Brian Doyle and Stephen Ubertini - the founders of The Paramount and this year's THE Soc  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- The Huntington's Disease Society of America issued the following news: The Huntington's Disease Society of America (HDSA) has awarded four grants under a new research initiative, the HDSA Center of Excellence Clinical Research Pilot Program. These grants, totaling $50,000, represent HDSA's patient-centric research focus by fostering novel clinical research projects within the HDSA Center of Excellence network. The HDSA Centers of Excellence provide an elite team approach   more

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 -- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees issued the following news: This week - in an unexpected, but welcome development - Congress reached a bipartisan spending deal that funds the government through September 2020 and delivers two significant legislative wins for IATSE members. The package of two "minibus" appropriations bills were signed into law. A long-awaited victory for IATSE members, the budget agreement includes a full repeal of the 40% health benefit  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 25 -- The Jewish Voice for Peace issued the following news release: * * * - From BDS dreidels to 'Boycott, boycott, boycott' to #LatkesAgainstTrump, Jews across the U.S. challenge Trump's Executive Order * * * From Seattle to Ann Arbor to Tuscon, from New York City to LA to Miami, hundreds of Chanukah celebrations were held challenging President Trump's Executive Order. In family gatherings, community parties and outdoor demonstrations, Jews and friends gathered to celebrate C  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 25 -- The Journal of Cosmetic Science, a journal that says it dedicates to the advancement of cosmetic science from the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, published research articles on the following topics in its September-October 2019 edition: * Comparative Assessment of Biological Activities of Mistletoes for Cosmetic Applications: Viscum Album Var. Coloratum (Kom.) Ohwi and Loranthus Tanakae Franch. & Sav. * Does Salt and Mineral Content of Dead Sea Mud Affect Its Irritation Pote  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 28 -- The Journal of Law and Business, a journal from the New York University School of Law, published research articles on the following topics in its Summer 2019 edition: * Contracting Jurisdiction: Arbitration of Noncompetition Disputes in Employment Agreement * Less Is More in the Age of Information Overload: The Paradigm Shift from a Shareholder- to a Stakeholder-Oriented Market * Pragmatism vs. Principle: Bankruptcy Appeals and Equitable Mootness The Summer 2019 edit  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- Lenox Hill Hospital, a Northwell Health's hospital, issued the following news: * * * - Vaccination recommended for seniors, young children * * * Lenox Hill Hospital hosted two community events this flu season providing complimentary flu shots to the public. The goal of the vaccination events held on December 5th and 10th was to ensure that the impact of the highly contagious virus - which is currently prevalent in New York State - is significantly minimized within the Up  more

NEW ROCHELLE, New York, Dec. 23 -- Mary Ann Liebert Inc. issued the following news release: A new prospective study based on data from the Women's Health Initiative found a potential inverse association between dietary magnesium and fatal coronary heart disease in postmenopausal women. The study, which also showed a trend between magnesium and sudden cardiac death in this population, is published in Journal of Women's Health, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.   more

ALBANY, New York, Dec. 24 -- Albany Medical Center, an academic health sciences center, issued the following news release: Nathan Gardner, M.S., PA-C, has been appointed director of the Center for Physician Assistant (PA) Studies at Albany Medical College. "As a long-standing member of our faculty and a practicing physician assistant, Nathan Gardner is exceptionally qualified to shape the future of the physician assistant program at Albany Medical College," said Vincent Verdile, M.D., the Lynn  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 28 -- The National Center for Law and Economic Justice issued the following news: On November 20, 2019, Tennessee submitted an application to the federal Center for Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). With its application, Tennessee is requesting that the Secretary of HHS waive certain federal Medicaid requirements that would allow the state to convert its Medicaid managed care program, called TennCare, into a "block grant" program. If a  more

ALBANY, New York, Dec. 19 -- The New York Farm Bureau issued the following statement by President David Fisher: "New York's farmers need to know that there are both free market access and opportunity with our North American neighbors, and today's vote in the U.S. House is a significant step in providing the certainty we need. "Canada and Mexico are two vital trading partners. USMCA guarantees goods will continue to cross borders and that there are new opportunities, including for our dairy a  more

NEW HYDE PARK, New York, Dec. 25 -- Northwell Health issued the following news: * * * - Northwell recognized as one of America's 100 Best Workplaces for Diversity * * * For the third straight year, Northwell Health has been named one of America's most diverse companies by Fortune magazine and the lone New York health care organization to make the 2019 list. Northwell ranks 69th on Fortune's annual 100 Best Workplaces for Diversity, a partnership between Fortune and Great Place to Work that   more

NEW YORK, Dec. 25 -- The Open Space Institute issued the following news release: * * * - $1.2 million awarded for projects at Fahnestock and Minnewaska State Parks * * * The Open Space Institute (OSI) has been awarded $1.2 million to improve trail access at two of the Hudson Valley's premier state parks, Minnewaska State Park Preserve in Ulster County and Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park in Putnam County. The two grants were awarded through the New York State Regional Economic Develop  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 18 -- Physicians for Reproductive Health issued the following news release: Today, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued its decision in Texas v. Azar, ruling the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional. In response, Board Chair of Physicians for Reproductive Health Dr. Kristyn Brandi issued the following statement: "Let me be clear: the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is still law of the land. Your existing insurance is still intact, you can still access t  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 19 -- The Police Benevolent Association of New York issued the following statement: The NYC PBA today announced the appointment of current PBA communications team member John Nuthall to fill the role of Communications Director. Effective January 1, 2020, John will lead the PBA's communications and public affairs teams and will serve as the primary contact for all media inquiries. PBA President Patrick J. Lynch said: "These are challenging times for New York City police officer  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 27 -- Population and Development Review, a journal that says it features population studies, the relationships between population and social, economic and environmental change from the Population Council, published research articles, including the following topics, in its December 2019 edition: * Fiscal and Welfare Effects of Raised Fertility in Poland: Overlapping Generations Model Estimates * Migrant Mortality Advantage Versus Origin and the Selection Hypothesis * Religion an  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 27 -- The Professional Bull Riders issued the following news: When PBR Canada action began for the 2019 season, the draws were missing one of the most talented bull riders to emerge from the nation in recent years - Brock Radford. Battling through a torn ACL/MCL initially sustained in August 2018, Radford underwent surgery to repair the torn ligaments following that November's PBR Canada Finals, where he one again finished runner-up in the national standings. The initial progno  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- The National Basketball Association issued the following news release: Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker has received the November NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente in recognition of his efforts to impact the lives of local children and families through his Devin Booker Starting Five initiative, the NBA announced. The award recognizes a player each month who best reflects the passion that the league and NBA players share for giving back to their   more

NEW YORK, Dec. 26 -- U.S. Tour Operators Association issued the following news release, dated Dec. 23: Following a shift in operational focus, U.S. China Travel Service, Inc. has resigned its Active Membership in USTOA effective December 13, 2019, and as a result has ceased participation in the USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program. "Travel agents and consumers should be aware that deposits made to U.S. China Travel Service, Inc. on or prior to December 13, 2019 are protected under the  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 -- The Wildlife Conservation Society issued the following news release: * * * - Marine scientists implement a social-ecological systems framework in 85 communities across four countries - Study is first ever multi-country implementation of Nobel Prize winner Elinor Ostrom's work for conservation monitoring practice * * * While many conservation plans focus on only environmental indicators for success, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)'s coral reef program is trying a  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 25 -- Wolters Kluwer Health issued the following news release: * * * - Two winning teams receive a $10,000 award each for innovation in legal education ideas. * * * Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory announced the winners of the second annual Leading Edge Prize for Educational Innovation, which rewards teams with $10,000 for the best educational and professional solutions for law students and new legal professionals. Designed to drive legal industry innovation, the prestigious  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 28 -- The World Jewish Congress issued the following news release: The World Jewish Congress United States is dismayed by the string of physical assaults against Jews that took place over the course of the first four days of Hanukkah in the greater New York metropolitan area, including Brooklyn, Manhattan, and nearby Teaneck, New Jersey, during what should be a joyous holiday season. These incidents are part of a resurgence of antisemitism that has been on the rise not only in Ne  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 25 -- The World Jewish Congress issued the following news release: The World Jewish Congress and the Jewish community of Slovakia were concerned to learn that 22 gravestones a Jewish cemetery in the country's northern town of Rajec had been damaged by unknown vandals, a week after 60 gravestones in the town of Namestovo were found damaged in a similar manner. The vandalism in Rajec appears to have occurred in mid-December and is currently under investigation by police; it is no  more