WASHINGTON, May 6 -- A coalition of 114 state legislators submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Labor opposing its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on employee versus independent contractor status under several federal labor laws. The letter argues that the proposed rule, which would replace the current federal test with a modified 2021 standard, threatens the fiscal integrity of state programs reliant on accurate worker classification. The legislators, representing states with a combined population of over 176 million, emph more ST

COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 5 [Category: BizEnergy] -- American Electric Power Corp. posted the following news release: * * * AEP Reports First-Quarter 2026 Earnings, Reaffirms Guidance and Increases Five-Year Capital Plan * * First-quarter 2026 GAAP earnings of $1.61 per share; operating earnings of $1.64 per share * AEP reaffirms full-year 2026 operating earnings guidance of $6.15 to $6.45 per share * New load additions expand to 63 gigawatts by 2030 * Cost offsets for existing customers of up to $16 billion driven by signed customer agreement more PR

LANSING, Michigan, May 5 -- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued the following news release: * * * AG Nessel and Bipartisan Coalition to Secure Final Approval in $700 Million Google Settlement over App Store Monopoly * The United States District Court for the Northern District of California stated last week that it will approve a $700 million settlement in a multistate antitrust lawsuit against Google. In 2021, Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a bipartisan group of 53 attorneys general who sued Google for illegally dominating And more PR

WASHINGTON, May 5 [Category: Health Care] -- Ascension, a faith-based healthcare organization, posted the following news release: * * * Ascension Saint Thomas to Break Ground on New Full-Service Hospital and Health Campus in Clarksville June 16 * Ascension Saint Thomas will break ground June 16 on its new full-service hospital and health campus in Clarksville, marking a major milestone in expanding access to high-quality, faith-based care for Montgomery County and the surrounding region. The ceremony will take place at the future health c more PR

COLUMBIA, South Carolina, May 5 -- South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued the following news: * * * Attorney General Alan Wilson fights for victims of human trafficking * (COLUMBIA, S.C.) - Attorney General Alan Wilson announced today that he has joined a 12-state friend-of-the-court brief to ask the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals to allow human traffickers to be held liable for conduct that takes place beyond the United States' borders under the TVPA (Trafficking Victims Protection Act). The TVPA authorizes states to bring  more PR

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama, May 4 -- Samford University issued the following news release: * * * Celebrating 2026 Spring Commencement: 'Samford continues to thrive' * Samford University held six commencement ceremonies May 1-2, where more than 1,400 students walked the stage and received their degrees. "Samford's institutional narrative began on Dec. 29, 1841, when the state of Alabama granted a charter to establish Howard College in the city of Marion," said university President Beck A. Taylor. "More than 184 years later, Samford continues to t more PR

BRENTWOOD, Tennessee, May 5 [Category: BizHealth Care] -- Lifepoint Health, a healthcare company, posted the following news: * * * Centra Behavioral Health Hospital Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for new hospital on the Simons Run Medical Campus * Centra and Lifepoint Behavioral Health, an operating division of Lifepoint Health, joined community leaders for a celebratory ribbon cutting to mark the completion of the Centra Behavioral Health Hospital in Lynchburg, Virginia, which is set to open this summer. Through a joint venture, the two org more PR

WASHINGTON, May 5 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Cohen Announces $3.1 Million in NIH Grants to St. Jude * WASHINGTON - Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that St. Jude Children's Research Hospital will receive two grants totaling $3,109,370 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). One, for $1,686,167, is from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for research on early life viral infections' impact on immune development trajectories under the directi more PR

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, May 5 [Category: Law/Legal] -- The Tennessee Bar Association posted the following commentary blog: * * * Davidson County Sheriff: Nashville Exempt from ICE Cooperation * In a statement issued on May 1, Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall asserted that Metro Nashville is exempt from newly passed legislation HB2219/SB2223, which requires sheriffs' offices to enter into agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) known as 287(g) partnerships. The Tennessean reports that Hall said the bill only pertains to sh more PR

JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, May 5 -- East Tennessee State University posted the following news: * * * ETSU Board of Trustees to hold quarterly meeting May 21 * East Tennessee State University's Board of Trustees will hold its quarterly meeting and several committee meetings on Thursday, May 21. All meetings will be conducted in person at the D.P. Culp Student Center, East Tennessee Room. Meetings are scheduled as follows: Academic, Research and Student Success Committee - 9 a.m. Finance and Administration Committee - 10:20 a.m. Audit more PR

JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, May 5 -- East Tennessee State University posted the following news: * * * ETSU trio honored with 2026 Harold Love Awards * Three ETSU community members earned 2026 Harold Love Awards for leadership, service and impact across Appalachia and beyond. East Tennessee State University students Gracee DeJarnette and Noah Wren, along with staff member Charles "Chuck" Patton, are among the recipients of the 2026 Harold Love Outstanding Community Service Awards for their exceptional commitment to serving others. The Love  more PR

NOTRE DAME, Indiana, May 5 -- The University of Notre Dame posted the following news: * * * Historian Katlyn Carter wins Andrew Carnegie Fellowship for research on truth in early American politics * University of Notre Dame historian Katlyn Carter has won a 2026 Andrew Carnegie Fellowship, the Carnegie Corporation of New York announced Tuesday (May 5). Carter, an associate professor in the Department of History, was one of 24 scholars and writers from a record 381 nominees to receive the honor. The fellowship includes a two-year grant of  more PR

MURFREESBORO, Tennessee, May 5 -- Middle Tennessee State University posted the following news: * * * In the news: MTSU faculty, staff talk censorship, AI, unemployment, Pirates, more * MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -Middle Tennessee State University faculty and staff recently shared their perspectives with media on various issues, including employment rates, artificial intelligence, censorship and finances. * Allie Sultan, media arts professor, talked with Axios Nashville on April 9 about the launch of a Master of Fine Arts for film and TV producti more PR

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, May 5 -- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Basic Sciences posted the following news: * * * Martin Egli to deliver Kairos Lecture on Thursday, May 28 * Martin Egli, the Richard N. Armstrong, Ph.D. Professor of Innovation in Biochemistry and a professor of biochemistry at the School of Medicine Basic Sciences, [will present an upcoming Kairos Lecture on Thursday, May 28, at 4:00 p.m. in 1220 Medical Research Building III. The title of his talk is "RNA Structure, Etiology and Re-Engineering into siRNA Therapeutics. more PR

WASHINGTON, May 6 -- The House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education released the following written testimony by Michaele N. Turnage Young, senior counsel and co-manager of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc. Equal Protection Initiative, from an April 28, 2026, hearing entitled "Leveling Down: How Equity Policies Undermine Excellence and Harm Students": * * * Good morning Chairman Kiley, Ranking Member Bonamici, and other distinguished members of the Subcommittee on Early Chi more PR

WASHINGTON, May 6 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release: * * * NRC Launches Accelerated Review of Radiant's Application for Special Nuclear Material License ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has accepted an application from Radiant for a special nuclear materials license for its R-50 microreactor facility site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The action marks a key step toward deploying a new generation of smaller, advanced reactors in the United States. Radiant is part of the Department of Energy's more PR

WASHINGTON, May 5 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued the following news release on May 4, 2026: * * * OCC Releases CRA Performance Evaluations for 21 National Banks and Federal Savings Associations The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today released a list of Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) performance evaluations that became public during the period of April 1, 2026, through April 30, 2026. Under the CRA, the OCC assesses an institution's record of meeting the credit need more PR

BOWLING GREEN, Kentucky, May 5 -- Western Kentucky University posted the following news: * * * Ogden Foundation Scholar builds community through leadership and service Chaise Bethmann, a graduating senior and Mahurin Honors College student from Thompson's Station, Tenn., said she didn't come to WKU as a leader, but she's leaving as one. "I arrived with potential, and WKU helped me grow into someone who leads with more confidence, intention and heart. More than anything, my experience taught me that leadership is not something I hold. It is more PR

STILLWATER, Oklahoma, May 6 -- Oklahoma State University issued the following news: * * * Senseman receives award from the national land-grant system Scott Senseman, associate vice president of OSU Ag Research, has been presented with agInnovation's Award for Excellence in Leadership, honoring his work with the organization. AgInnovation is the nationwide system of agricultural research stations, which is operated by leadership from land-grant universities across the nation. The organization focuses on research collaborations and strategic  more PR

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, May 6 -- Trevecca Nazarene University issued the following news: * * * OnlineMasters.com Ranks Trevecca Graduate Programs Among Best in the U.S. for 2026 Higher education research platform recognizes top master's programs across disciplines * OnlineMasters.com, an independent higher education research platform specializing in online graduate education, has recognized multiple programs at Trevecca Nazarene University in its 2026 rankings. The University earned top distinctions across several online master's discipline more PR

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee, May 5 -- The University of Tennessee posted the following news: * * * Political Science Professor Named 2026 Andrew Carnegie Fellow * Wayde Marsh, an assistant professor of political science, has been named a 2026 Andrew Carnegie Fellow and will receive a $200,000 stipend to support his research on rhetoric, political psychology and the role of religious institutions supporting their communities in the wake of trauma. The Andrew Carnegie Fellows program supports research in the social sciences and humanities that add more PR

WASHINGTON, May 5 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * Press Advisory: Tennessee Leaders Host Press Conference Condemning Republican Supermajority's Legislative Attempt to Silence Voters and Disenfranchise Black Tennesseans * Elected and civic leaders from across Tennessee speak out as special legislative session to redraw Congressional maps begins NASHVILLE - TODAY, Tuesday, May 5, a unified coalition of elected officials and community leaders from across Tennessee will gather at Beth Harwell Plaza a more PR

WASHINGTON, May 6 -- Rep. Matt Van Epps, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release on May 5, 2026: * * * Rep. Van Epps Celebrates Passage of Amendment to Strengthen Quantum Technologies out of the SST Committee Today, Rep.Van Epps (TN07) introduced an amendment in the Space, Science and Technology Committee's markup to reauthorize the National Quantum Initiative Act. This proposal amends the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act to include reviews of the National Quantum Initiative program. Specifically, the amendment directs more PR

ROCHESTER, New York, May 6 -- Rochester Institute of Technology issued the following news release: * * * RIT partners with Army to strengthen nation's future workforce RIT to lead national effort to expand STEM pathways and support Army readiness * The U.S. Department of the Army Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (Army STEM) has awarded the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) a premier cooperative agreement to establish and lead the Army STEM Education Consortium (ASEC). This award recognizes RIT's ability to drive edu more PR

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, May 6 -- Trevecca Nazarene University issued the following news: * * * Stephen Bargatze Awarded an Honorary Doctoral Degree from Trevecca Nazarene University Trevecca awarded Stephen Bargatze an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree during its Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 2. A 1984 Trevecca graduate, Bargatze has made his mark on the entertainment world as a magician, comedian and motivational speaker. Having been left with a speech impediment from a childhood accident, Bargatze found a home at Trevecca where h more PR

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, May 6 -- Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions issued the following news: * * * COMMISSIONER GONZALES ANNOUNCES MAXIMUM EFFECTIVE RATE of INTEREST The Commissioner of Financial Institutions hereby announces that the maximum effective rate of interest per annum for home loans as set by the General Assembly in 2025, Public Chapter 290, for the month of June 2026 is 10.32 percent per annum. The maximum effective rate of interest per annum for home loans shall be set at an amount equal to four (4) percentage point more PR

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, May 6 -- Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions issued the following news on May 5, 2026: * * * COMMISSIONER GONZALES ANNOUNCES WEEKLY FORMULA RATE MAY 5, 2026 Commissioner of Financial Institutions Greg Gonzales announced today that the maximum effective formula rate of interest in Tennessee is 10.75 percent per annum. The rate is based on a ceiling of 4 percent over the weekly average prime loan rate of 6.75 percent as published by the Federal Reserve on May 4, 2026. Commissioner Gonzales said the rate remai more PR

COOKEVILLE, Tennessee, May 5 -- Tennessee Technological University issued the following news release: * * * Tennessee Tech celebrates Alpha Mu Gamma honors society inductees * Tennessee Tech University's Department of Foreign Languages recently welcomed an expansive class of students into Alpha Mu Gamma, the nation's largest collegiate foreign language honors society. Founded in 1931, Alpha Mu Gamma (AMG) recognizes exceptional achievement in the study of foreign languages. Through language-focused organizations, cross-cultural experience more PR

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee, May 5 -- The University of Tennessee posted the following news: * * * UT Knoxville Advisory Board To Meet May 12 * The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Advisory Board will meet at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 12, in Room 145 of the Center for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing, 2641 Osprey Vista Way, in the UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm. Agenda items include the following: * Approval of the minutes of the last meeting * Recognition of outgoing members * Recognition of incoming members * Election of bo more PR

SPARTANBURG, South Carolina, May 6 -- Wofford College issued the following news: * * * Davis honored for exceptional teaching Dr. Johnathan Davis wins 2026 SCICU Excellence in Teaching Award * Dr. Johnathan Davis, assistant professor of biology, has earned a 2026 South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities Excellence in Teaching Award. Each year, SCICU selects one professor from each college in the state for the honor, which includes a certificate and a $3,000 professional development grant. Davis was recognized at the SCICU's aw more PR