BOSTON, Aug. 23 -- The American Chemical Society issued the following news release: The era of personalized energy systems -- in which individual homes and small businesses produce their own energy for heating, cooling and powering cars -- took another step toward reality today as scientists reported discovery of a powerful new catalyst that is a key element in such a system. They described the advance, which could help free homes and business from dependence on the electric company and t  more

MOUNT BERRY, Ga., Aug. 23 -- Berry College issued the following news release: Berry College celebrated the end of a blistering hot summer by welcoming nearly 700 first-year students and transfers for the first day of classes Monday, Aug. 23. Combined with a strong group of returning students, the new class is expected to push Berry's total undergraduate population to approximately 1,900 students when enrollment numbers are finalized. Joining them will be more than 140 additional students who   more

MASHANTUCKET, Conn., Aug. 23 -- Foxwoods Resort Casino, owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, issued the following news release: Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enterprises today announced that Steve Karoul has joined the organization as Vice President of Casino Marketing. In this role, Karoul will plan and implement promotional programs designed to attract large groups of new and existing customers to the property, and will manage special events and activities. Karoul will report di  more

MEADVILLE, Pa., Aug. 23 -- Allegheny College issued the following news release: Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Angelique Kidjo will perform on Saturday, Sept. 25 at 8 p.m. in Shafer Auditorium on the Allegheny College campus. Hailed as "Africa's premier diva" by Time magazine, Kidjo is a native of Benin. Her music is known for soulful, uplifting melodies that combine elements of R&B, funk and jazz with African, European and Latin American influences. In 2007, Kidjo's album "  more

LAWRENCE, Kan., Aug. 23 -- The University of Kansas issued the following news release: The University of Kansas is among nine public universities in the nation cited by U.S. News and World Report for having the top study abroad programs, which the publication said education experts agree on as a key ingredient to student success. KU offers programs in approximately 70 countries throughout the world. Students can study in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia or Europe. Twenty-seven percen  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 -- The U.S. Department of State's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons issued the text of the following speech: Good morning. Thank you Mr. Heck for that kind introduction. I am pleased that you all decided to use the blue and gold on the NDAA banner instead of the Ohio State red and silver for your colors at the conference. It seems that when it comes to Big Ten football, it is often us versus everyone else. I am delighted to be here at National Harbor   more

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Aug. 23 -- Rhodes College issued the following news release: Mark Carl Behr joins the Department of English as associate professor. He is a novelist whose work has been translated into ten languages and has received awards in Africa, Europe and the U.S. He holds a B.A. in English and B.A. in politics (honors) from Stellenbosch University in South Africa. He received an M.A. in international peace studies and English literature as well as an M.F.A. in literature and fiction wri  more

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 23 -- The University of Pittsburgh issued the following news release: The University of Pittsburgh will bestow the symbolic "light of learning" on more than 400 incoming freshman and first-year transfer women during the 90th annual Lantern Night Ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 29 in Heinz Memorial Chapel, Fifth and Bellefield avenues, Oakland. The student participants will gather at 7 p.m. in the Cathedral of Learning Commons Room to receive a lantern and prepare for the 7:25   more

ROUND ROCK, Texas, Aug. 23 -- The city of Round Rock issued the following news release: The Round Rock Fire Department's Firefighter Combat Challenge Team competed in the Lubbock Combat Challenge competition on Aug. 6-7, 2010. Firefighter Steven Peters placed 23rd in the individual relay competition. His teammate, Capt. Steven Jewell, placed 44th. There were 76 total competitors in the male individual category. The tandem team of Peters and Jewell completed the relay in one minute thirt  more

ABUJA, Nigeria, Aug. 23 -- The U.S. Diplomatic Mission issued the following news release: Nigeria has achieved a Category 1 air safety rating from the U.S. Government under the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program. This means that Nigeria complies with international air safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations' technical agency for aviation that establishes international standard  more

IOWA CITY, Iowa, Aug. 23 -- The University of Iowa of issued the following news release: The University of Iowa will develop a new study abroad program in Tanzania, thanks to an almost $250,000 grant from the U.S. State Department. It is the first semester-long UI study abroad program in Eastern Africa and one of the first of its kind in the nation. The grant, which will be matched with an additional $139,000 from the UI, is titled "Capacity Building for Undergraduate Study Abroad." Jan  more