TEMPE, Arizona, Jan. 29 (TNSPer) -- Arizona State University issued the following news: An Arizona State University alumna and former faculty member has taken the helm of the nation's mission control center for space exploration. Laurie Leshin, the president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, has been named the new director of the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL), a federally-funded research and development center managed by the California Institute of Technology for NASA. "Laurie is a great intellec more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following focus paper (No. IF11808) on Feb. 2, 2022, entitled "The Internal Revenue Service's Free File Program: Current Status and Policy Issues" by public finance analyst Gary Guenther: * * * The option to electronically file (e-filing) federal individual income tax returns began in 1986. Since then its usage has grown considerably. By the end of December 2020, 89% of returns for the 2019 tax year were e-filed. Nonetheless,  more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R44235) on Jan. 28, 2022, entitled "Supreme Court Appointment Process: President's Selection of a Nominee" by American national government analyst Barry J. McMillion: * * * SUMMARY The appointment of a Supreme Court Justice is an event of major significance in American politics. Each appointment is of consequence because of the enormous judicial power the Supreme Court exercises as the highest appellate more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R44235) on Jan. 28, 2022, entitled "Supreme Court Appointment Process: President's Selection of a Nominee" by American national government analyst Barry J. McMillion: * * * Background Investigations An important part of the selection process involves investigating the background of prospective nominees. In recent years the investigative effort generally has followed two primary tracks--one concerned wit more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL33225) on Jan. 28, 2022, entitled "Supreme Court Nominations, 1789 to 2020: Actions by the Senate, the Judiciary Committee, and the President" by American national government analyst Barry J. McMillion: * * * SUMMARY The process of appointing Supreme Court Justices has undergone changes over two centuries, but its most basic feature, the sharing of power between the President and Senate, has remained  more PR

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, Feb. 2 (TNSPol) -- The University of Virginia issued the following Q&A with Stephen Mull, vice provost for global affairs, on Feb. 1, 2022: * * * As more than 100,000 Russian troops line the Ukraine border, tensions in Eastern Europe are growing by the day. The building crisis, rooted in a fight for identity, could be nearing its tipping point. UVA Today turned to former U.S. diplomat Stephen Mull, University of Virginia's vice provost for global affairs, for clarit more PR