WINNSBORO, S.C., April 1 -- The American Civil Liberties Union issued the following news release: In a letter sent today to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the American Civil Liberties Union urged the DOJ to object to changes to board elections for the Fairfield County School District in South Carolina because the changes would dilute the voting strength of minorities in Fairfield County. Because of its history of discrimination against minority voters, South Carolina is required under   more

LOS ANGELES, April 1 -- The office of the Los Angeles Mayor issued the following news release: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and First Deputy Mayor Austin Beutner today announced the appointment of six individuals to serve as Los Angeles City Fellows - a first-of-its-kind undertaking to bring top young talent from the business sector into City government to further Los Angeles' economic initiatives and strategies. "The Los Angeles City Fellows program is a shining example of what we can accom  more

KINGSTON, R.I., April 1 -- The University of Rhode Island issued the following news release: The University of Rhode Island Women's Studies Program will host a pair of lectures as part of the activities connected with next week's inauguration of President David M. Dooley. The first lecture features international scholar Bola Akanji, a full research professor from the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research. Akanji will discuss "Gender Equity in Higher Education: Perspectives fro  more

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. (29th CD), issued the following news release: On Saturday at a reception in Pasadena, Representative Adam Schiff honored Juanita West Tillman for her commitment and service to Altadena by naming her a "Woman of the Year." "For more than 25 years, Juanita has worked tirelessly on behalf of students providing our children a brighter future," explained Schiff. "Her expansive efforts in educating and mentoring children demonstrate the potenti  more

ALBANY, N.Y., April 1 -- The New York State Department of Health issued the following news release: Research reported today in the journal Health Affairs confirms that New York State's proposed 17 percent tax on soda and other sugary beverages would likely reduce soda consumption and obesity among youth. The study found that higher taxes are associated with lower total consumption of soda. Higher soda taxes are also associated with significantly lower Body Mass Index (BMI) gain among heavi  more

JAFFERSON COUNTY, Colo., April 1 -- Jefferson County issued the following news release: Jefferson County residents will benefit again this year from a $60,000 grant provided to the Jefferson County Public Health Community Health Services. The grant, received from Susan G. Komen for the Cure, will be used for various breast cancer-related services, including mammogram screenings. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure's mission is to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advanc  more

WILLIAMSBURG, Ky., April 1 -- University of Cumberland issued the following news release: Robert Reising, a professor of education at University of the Cumberlands, has received the Casey Nomination Award for his critically acclaimed "Chasing Moonlight: The True Story of Field of Dreams' Doc Graham," a biography accounting the story of international icon Dr. Archibald Wright "Moonlight" Graham. The book by Reising and his co-author, Brett Friedlander, was one of ten runners up for the Case  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- The RAND Corporation issued the following news release: Small sales taxes on soft drinks in the range currently in force in some states are insufficient to reduce consumption of soda or curb obesity among children, according to a new RAND Corporation study. Such small taxes may reduce consumption in some subgroups such as children at greater risk for obesity, but reducing consumption for all children would require larger taxes, according to the study published in the  more

ROCK HILL, S.C., April 1 -- Winthrop University issued the following news release: William C. Rhoden, sportswriter for the New York Times, will serve as keynote speaker during the Ninth Annual Dorothy Perry Thompson Colloquium in African American Studies and the African American Experience in April. The author will deliver the colloquium's lecture, titled "40 Million Dollar Slaves: The Rise, Fall and Redemption of the Black Athlete," on April 12 at 7 p.m. in Plowden Auditorium. Rhoden,   more

DURHAM, N.C., April 1 -- North Carolina Central University issued the following news release: A mini-symposium on March 23, at North Carolina Central University introduced students to the role of African-Americans in medical science discoveries, including the story of Henrietta Lacks and her immortal cells. Thanks to author Rebecca Skloot, the unknown contributions of one African-American woman, Henrietta Lacks, are now widely known. Skloot shared the story of Lacks in her book, The Immort  more

ATHENS, Ga., March 31 -- The University of Georgia issued the following news release: University of Georgia counseling professor Deryl Bailey has been named 2010 Reese House Social Justice Advocate of the Year by the Counselors for Social Justice, a division of the American Counseling Association. Bailey, an associate professor in the College of Education's department of counseling and human development services, received the award for his dedication to social justice advocacy among K-12 s  more

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., April 1 -- The University of Tennessee issued the following news release: The 10th annual Julian Blackshear Jr. Scholarship Banquet, sponsored by the College of Law and the Black Law Students' Association at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, will be held on April 17. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. at UT Visitors Center, 2712 Neyland Drive. Tickets are $30 and reservations are needed by April 11. To reserve a ticket, contact Alexis Bell at abell8@utk.edu or (865) 9  more