SILVER SPRING, Maryland, Sept. 15 -- The Association of Zoos and Aquariums issued the following news release: 22 aquariums and zoos have earned the prestigious accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Widely regarded as the "gold standard" of zoological accreditation, AZA's independent Accreditation Commission (the Commission) reviewed 30 applications for accreditation during the AZA's 2023 Annual Conference held in Columbus, Ohio. The Commission reported that these 22 fac  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued the following news release on Sept. 13, 2023: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today expressed its support for the right of local communities to remove Confederate street names. The city of Forest Hills is seeking to test Tennessee's Heritage Protection Act, passed five years ago to protect Confederate monuments. The city is testing whet  more

NEW YORK, Sept. 13 -- The Center for Reproductive Rights issued the following news release on Sept. 12, 2023: Today, the Center for Reproductive Rights filed legal actions in three states where abortion is banned--Idaho, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. These actions were filed on behalf of eight women who were denied abortions despite dangerous pregnancy complications, along with four OB-GYNs and a leading Idaho medical organization. All eight women faced serious complications, and some were forced to  more

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee, Sept. 14 (TNSres) -- The College and University Professional Association for Human Resources issued the following news release: Employee retention remains a challenge for the nation's colleges and universities, as voluntary turnover in the higher education workforce continues to trend upward. New research from the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) sheds light on which employees are leaving, why they are leaving, and what higher e  more

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Sept. 14 -- The Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission issued the following news release: The board of trustees for the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention has unanimously voted to elect Kevin Smith as the new chairperson during its meeting in Nashville, Tenn., September 11-13. Smith's appointment is the first time a Black man has held the position in the history of the entity. Smith serves as pastor of   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 -- The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers issued the following news release: IFPTE's Executive Officers and staff visited the White House this week to discuss IFPTE's ongoing efforts to engage in and promote workforce development and clean nuclear energy. The meeting, which was also attended jointly and in partnership with Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) staff, was with Senior Adviser to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementa  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 -- The LGBTQ+ Victory Fund issued the following statement on Sept. 14, 2023: * * * First Transgender Official in Tennessee * * * Nashville and Davidson County voters made history in Thursday's runoff, electing the first out transgender candidate to the Metro Council. LGBTQ+ Victory Fund endorsed candidate Olivia Hill won an at-large seat on the Council, marking the first time an out transgender candidate has been elected anywhere in Tennessee. * * * Mayor Annise Parker  more

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Sept. 13 -- The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol issued the following news: The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol ("Trust Protocol") is pleased to announce the membership of Macy's, Inc. The company represents more than 700 store locations nationwide across three our iconic nameplates, including Macy's, Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury. Trust Protocol membership will bolster Macy's efforts in sourcing cotton sustainably, driving positive social and environmental change within the cotton i  more