WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation issued the following news release on Aug. 28, 2023: The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced $1.7 million in grants to implement wildlife-focused forest management and improved grazing practices in Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The grants will generate $1.6 million in matching contributions from grantees for a total conservation impact of $3.3 million to enhance and restore shortleaf and white oak fores  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 -- The America First Legal, a civil rights organization, issued the following news release: Last night, America First Legal (AFL) filed a brief asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit to overturn a district-court ruling that purports to block enforcement of a Tennessee law protecting children from sexualized "drag shows." In Friends of George's Inc. v. Steven Mulroy, the district court enjoined the district attorney of Shelby County from enforcing Tennessee's  more

ARLINGTON, Virginia, Sept. 2 -- The Association of the U.S. Army issued the following news: Former Capt. Larry Taylor, a helicopter pilot who repeatedly braved enemy fire to rescue troops trapped on the ground during a fierce battle in Vietnam, will receive the Medal of Honor for his actions, the White House announced Sept. 1. President Joe Biden is expected to present Taylor with the award Sept. 5 during a ceremony at the White House. A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Taylor is being recogn  more

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee, Aug. 29 -- Appalachian Voices issued the following news release on Aug. 28, 2023: In a disappointing move, the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority last week approved a 4.5% increase to its base power rate. This rate hike will go into effect in just a few weeks and will lead to higher electricity bills throughout the region. Despite the federal utility's efforts to downplay the increase, the rate hike will have a significant negative impact on families a  more

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Aug. 29 -- Ducks Unlimited issued the following news release on Aug. 28, 2023: Ducks Unlimited, the New Orleans City Park Improvement Association and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries have worked together to ensure the Timken Wildlife Management Area (WMA) will be protected and remain accessible to the public in perpetuity. "Timken Wildlife Management Area is a hidden gem in the world of wildlife management areas," said Cara Lambright, President & CEO of Ci  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 30 -- The Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission issued the following news release: The Psalm 139 Project, a pro-life ministry of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, has donated an ultrasound machine to Birth Choice in Jackson, Tenn. A dedication ceremony will be held Aug. 31 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. CST at Birth Choice at 391 Wallace Rd. Jackson, Tenn. 38305. Representatives from the ERLC and local  more

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Aug. 31 -- Everytown Law, a part of Everytown for Gun Safety, issued the following news release on Aug. 30, 2023: Today, Everytown Law, the largest and most experienced team of litigators in the U.S. working full-time on advancing gun violence prevention in the courts, announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with the University of Memphis School of Law to fund the creation of an innovative clinical position to support pediatric victims of gun violence. The University of M  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 -- Everytown for Gun Safety issued the following news release on Aug. 30, 2023: Gun violence prevention organizations Everytown for Gun Safety, Brady, GIFFORDS, and March for Our Lives condemned the Republican-led Tennessee legislature for failing to pass meaningful gun safety legislation during the state's special session. In the aftermath of the Covenant School shooting, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee called for a special session and urged lawmakers to pass an extreme risk pr  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 -- The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence issued the following news release: Gun violence prevention organizations Brady, Everytown for Gun Safety, GIFFORDS, and March for Our Lives condemned the Republican-led Tennessee legislature for failing to pass meaningful gun safety legislation during the state's special session. In the aftermath of the Covenant School shooting, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee called for a special session and urged lawmakers to pass an extreme risk p  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The National Association of Federally Impacted Schools issued the following news release: The National Association of Federally Impacted Schools (NAFIS) is pleased to announce that Stephanie Clark, Chief Financial Officer of Liberty County School System (Georgia), has been appointed to the NAFIS Board of Directors. She will serve as the Region II Director, representing Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia   more

NEW YORK, Aug. 30 -- Moms Demand Action, a part of Everytown for Gun Safety, issued the following news release: The Tennessee chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety's grassroots network, released the following statement in response to Tennessee lawmakers ending their special session without action on gun violence prevention, despite Republican Governor Lee's previous call to action following the mass shooting at the Covenant School. In t  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 26 -- The National Immigration Law Center issued the following news release: Today, The National Immigration Law Center launches their "Freedom to Thrive" portrait sessions starting in California, with Tennessee and Texas sessions planned later this year. The Freedom to Thrive initiative is a narrative and cultural campaign to shift the hearts and minds of the American public and create lasting change that enables all of us to thrive. At the event, community members in Long Be  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1 -- PEN America issued the following news release on Aug. 31, 2023: A new bill in Congress focused on school materials "harmful to minors" instead amounts to an "intimidation tactic" to chill education when no such problem exists, PEN America said today. Representative Mark Green of Tennessee introduced the No Obscene Teaching in Our Schools Act, which would reduce federal funding to schools found to promote materials that are "harmful to minors." The bill would prohibit the  more

NEW YORK, Sept. 1 -- PEN America issued the following news release on Aug. 31, 2023: The threat by the Blount County, Tennessee prosecutor to enforce a ban on drag performances at Saturday's LGBTQ+ pride festival is a "grave threat" to free expression, PEN America said today. A federal judge has ruled the law likely violates the First Amendment. The county prosecutor, Ryan Desmond, sent a letter on Tuesday to local law enforcement and organizers of Blount Pride declaring his intent to enforce   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 -- People for the American Way issued the following statement on Aug. 29, 2023: * * * Following the latest attempt by the leadership of the Tennessee House of Representatives to silence and intimidate Rep. Justin Jones, one of the "Tennessee Three," People For the American Way President Svante Myrick released the following statement: "With every fresh attack against him, Justin Jones proves again why he is a hero for our times. The far-right Tennessee House leadership can   more

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Aug. 31 -- The Southern Environmental Law Center issued the following news release on Aug. 30, 2023: This week, the Southern Environmental Law Center and Memphis Community Against Pollution learned that Sterilization Services of Tennessee, which has been emitting toxic ethylene oxide pollution into nearby communities for more than four decades, will finally close its South Memphis plant. The closure is a major victory for nearby neighborhoods who have been fighting for clean  more