LYNCHBURG, Virginia, Feb. 17 -- The University of Lynchburg issued the following news: * * * 'Hell Bent' author to speak at University of Lynchburg on March 16 Brian Recker will present the annual Shumate Lecture at Snidow Chapel. * Brian Recker, author of "Hell Bent: How the Fear of Hell Holds Christians Back from a Spirituality of Love," will speak at the University of Lynchburg's Snidow Chapel at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 16. The event, part of the annual Jennie Cutler Shumate Lecture, is more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 -- Americans for Tax Reform issued the following commentary on Feb. 15, 2026: * * * New Payroll Tax, New Mandates: Virginia Democrats Target Employers Jack Baum Virginia Democrats are advancing two massive workplace mandates in 2026: a statewide paid family and medical leave (PFML) program (SB 2 and HB 1207) and a statewide paid sick leave mandate (SB 199 and HB 5). Supporters describe these bills as "benefits," but the reality is simpler: they are new costs, new bureaucr more PR

GUILFORD, England, Feb. 16 -- The University of Surrey issued the following news release: * * * Comment: Gender-inclusive pronouns have been part of English literature for centuries, says Surrey academic * As debates over pronoun use intensify worldwide, a University of Surrey academic is drawing on centuries of English literature to challenge the idea that gender-inclusive pronouns are anything but new. Dr Lena Mattheis, Lecturer in Contemporary Literature in our School of Arts, Humanitie more PR

BOWLING GREEN, Kentucky, Feb. 16 -- Western Kentucky University posted the following news: * * * Curiosity in Motion: How Lincoln Potts Found His Path in Physics * When Lincoln Potts first walked onto WKU's campus as a Gatton Academy student, research wasn't part of his plan. "I initially didn't want to research," he admitted. "I was like, I don't know about all that-that's some really nerdy stuff I would never do." But watching his classmates pursue projects that combined creativity and d more PR

RICHMOND, Virginia, Feb. 17 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following Q&A on Feb. 16, 2026, by Madeline Reinsel with Yifan Lou, assistant professor in the School of Social Work: * * * How to plan for a 'good death,' according to a VCU researcher Social work professor Yifan Lou offers insight into end-of-life care and its individualized paths. * People talk a lot more about death than dying. That's according to Yifan Lou, Ph.D., a Virginia Commonwealth University School of Soc more PR

HARRISONBURG, Virginia, Feb. 17 -- James Madison University issued the following Q&A on Feb. 16, 2026, by Skyler Dixon with Amanda Sawyer and Chelsey Bollinger, professors in the Department of Early, Elementary and Reading Education: * * * Q&A: COE faculty spotlight global perspectives in mathematics Amanda Sawyer and Chelsey Bollinger, who teach in the Department of Early, Elementary, and Reading Education, recently co-wrote "Mable Mathis and the Mysterious Aunt Sally," a children's book tha more PR

SILVER SPRING, Maryland, Feb. 14 -- The National Black Nurses Association issued the following news release: * * * National Black Nurses Association Celebrates NBNA Members Honored as 2026 ANA National Award Winners The National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) extends its warmest congratulations to its members who have been recognized as recipients of the 2026 American Nurses Association (ANA) National Awards, among an elite group of 15 distinguished nurses honored this year. These awards, pr more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 -- President Trump issued the following proclamation on Feb. 16, 2026: * * * PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY, 2026 Today, our Nation honors President George Washington, our foremost American hero, the face of the American Revolution, and a champion of American liberty. On President Washington's Birthday, particularly as we celebrate 250 glorious years of American independence, we pay tribute to the father of our country, and with immeasurable pride and gratitude, we more PR

EARLYVILLE, Virginia, Feb. 17 -- Progress Virginia, an advocacy organization that combines online organizing and communications with earned media strategies, issued the following news release on Feb. 16, 2026: * * * Workers Celebrate as Virginia House of Delegates Passes Paid Sick Days Legislation Richmond--Workers and advocates across the Commonwealth are celebrating today as HB5, legislation sponsored by Delegate Kelly Convirs-Fowler that guarantees paid sick days for working Virginians, pa more PR

RICHMOND, Virginia, Feb. 17 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news: * * * Religion and spirituality power annual lecture series from new VCU hub The Center for the Study of Global Religions and Spiritualities encourages a broader understanding of world culture. By Sian Wilkerson A four-part lecture series that kicks off this month highlights how a new Virginia Commonwealth University initiative is using religion and spirituality as a lens for exploring world culture,  more PR

ARLINGTON, Virginia, Feb. 17 -- The Student Press Law Center issued the following news: * * * New Voices advocates testify in Missouri House hearing Myesha Phukan Student journalists, educators and other advocates of student journalism, including an attorney from the Student Press Law Center, testified Feb. 11 at a hearing of Missouri's House Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education in support of HB 2918. Also known as the Cronkite New Voices Act, the legislation would provide stron more PR

ORLANDO, Florida, Feb. 16 -- The University of Central Florida posted the following news: * * * UCF Medical Students to Care for U.S. Veterans * Two future UCF-built physicians will continue their medical training after graduation at top military residency programs across the country, caring for our nation's heroes. Arielle Patterson and Jemual Shaylor '21, members of UCF's M.D. Class of 2026, matched at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Naval Medical Center San Diego, respe more PR

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, Feb. 17 -- The University of Virginia issued the following Q&A on Feb. 16, 2026, by Mike Mather with Meghan Puglia, associate professor of neurology and researcher in the School of Medicine: * * * Q&A: Why are a child's first 1,000 days so critical for brain building? Year after year, government records show late summer is when most babies are born, with August as the most common birth month. That means - right now - tens of thousands of future parents are planning  more PR

RICHMOND, Virginia, Feb. 17 -- Gov. Abigail Spanberger, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on Feb. 16, 2026: * * * Governor Spanberger Announces Grants for Eight Virginia Communities to Restore Brownfield Sites Awards Total More Than $1.5 Million to Power Economic Development & Restore Damaged Properties * Governor Abigail Spanberger today announced that eight Virginia localities received $1.59 million in Site Remediation Grants from the Virginia Brownfields Restoration and Econo more PR

RICHMOND, Virginia, Feb. 13 -- Gov. Abigail Spanberger, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Governor Spanberger Announces More Than $4.9 Million in Grant Awards, Investments in Virginia's Food Systems Grants Aid in Building Resilience in Virginia's Local & Regional Food Supply Chains * Governor Abigail Spanberger today announced the award of 12 Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) grants -- totaling more than $4.9 million -- for Virginia farms, businesses, agricult more PR

RICHMOND, Virginia, Feb. 17 -- Gov. Abigail Spanberger, D-Virginia, issued the following statement on Feb. 16, 2026: * * * Governor Spanberger Pledges to Sign Legislation to Raise Minimum Wage Governor Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement after both the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates passed legislation that would incrementally increase the state minimum wage to $15 per hour by January 1, 2028. "Across our Commonwealth, I've heard from Virginia families who are s more PR

RICHMOND, Virginia, Feb. 17 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news: * * * 'Voices of Change: Stories from Alumni' to highlight campus activism The Feb. 26 panel discussion accompanies an ongoing exhibit at James Branch Cabell Library on VCU's history and legacy of student activism. * A panel of Virginia Commonwealth University alumni will discuss their experiences with activism on campus and beyond at a public event, "Voices of Change: Stories from Alumni," on Feb. 26 more PR

LEXINGTON, Virginia, Feb. 17 -- Virginia Military Institute issued the following news: * * * Richter Publishes 7th Book Dr. Duncan Richter, professor in the Department of English, Rhetoric, and Humanistic Studies and holder of the Charles Luck III '55 Institute Professorship at Virginia Military Institute, has recently authored his seventh book titled, "Wittgenstein Versus Anscombe on How to Live: Linked Philosophical Lives," published by Bloomsbury Publishing. The book explores the lives of more PR

ETTRICK, Virginia, Feb. 17 -- Virginia State University issued the following news: * * * Virginia State University Names Honors College After Distinguished Alumnus Dr. Charlie W. Hill '66 The prestigious recognition reflects Dr. Hill's decades of advocacy for VSU and his steadfast dedication to expanding opportunities for its students Virginia State University proudly announces the naming of its Honors College in honor of distinguished alumnus Dr. Charlie W. Hill '66, a leader whose life and more PR

BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Feb. 17 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: * * * Curious Conversations' podcast: Francesco Ferretti talks about the unknowns of sharks By Travis Williams Francesco Ferretti joined Virginia Tech's "Curious Conversations" to talk about the state of shark populations worldwide and the knowledge gaps that challenge conservation strategies. Ferretti explained the role of sharks in the larger marine ecosystem, the challenges of gathering data on shark populations, a more PR

BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Feb. 17 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: * * * Families of virology pioneers set up new scholarship for public health and veterinary students By Kevin Myatt Pedro Acha and Luis Melendez formed a tight personal and professional bond that knitted their families together and led to groundbreaking research together in virology. Now, their families are honoring them through endowing a new scholarship at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, where more PR

BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Feb. 17 (TNSjou) -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: * * * Sinking land, rising risk in New York City New York City's transportation infrastructure faces a growing risk from sinking land. By Kelly Izlar Slow but persistent sinking land could pose serious long-term risks to New York City's critical transportation infrastructure, including major airports, subway lines, and highways. While current rates of subsidence, or sinking land, across much of the city app more PR

BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Feb. 17 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: * * * Stavrou family gifts establish $350,000 to support junior faculty and graduate scholarships in the D.C. area By Franki Fitterer Angelos Stavrou's decision to create an endowment at Virginia Tech goes beyond his role as a professor in the College of Engineering. Angelos and his wife, Daliborka, both completed their graduate education in the United States after growing up abroad and deeply value the transformativ more PR