SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Applications for the annual Governor's Hometown Awards are available through Feb. 19.

The Governor's Hometown Awards give formal recognition to people who...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois officials are accepting nominations for volunteer service awards aimed at highlighting the importance of community service by individuals and businesses....

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts is proclaiming a statewide prayer day on Sunday for victims of the flood.

Ricketts announced the proclamation on Monday as first lady Susanne...

BANGOR, Maine (AP) — Maine nonprofit organizations say they are struggling to attract volunteers beyond the holiday season.

ELIZABETH, W.Va. (AP) — Seven of the leading causes of death are higher in Appalachia compared with the nation as a whole. But amid that grim news, there's some diversity in these statistics.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — More than $8 million has been awarded to Michigan to support AmeriCorps members working on projects across the state.

The Michigan Community Service Commission will administer grants to 28 organizations hosting AmeriCorps programs.

Organizations hosting programs include the American Red Cross, the Detroit Public Schools Community District, Heart of West Michigan United Way, the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness and Teach for America.

MIDDLE TYGER, S.C. (AP) — Don't ever tell Cassie Fowler she can't do something.

She'll set out to prove you wrong.

Despite being born with a condition that's kept her confined to a wheelchair, Cassie Fowler has taken boundless energy and combined it with a positive attitude and made the most of it.

She's become a regular volunteer at spots around Spartanburg County and for years has raised funds for multiple organizations, from the American Heart Association to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

GARRISON, N.D. (AP) — She has become the face of the North Dakota Governor's Cup Walleye Derby. Years of volunteerism can result in such things, but that's more than fine for Joyce Pfliger.

"I love it. Great people. Great people," said Pfliger. "There's been a lot of people that have come to fish over the years that have ended up being friends of mine."

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Gov. Terry McAuliffe has announced that nominations are being accepted for the 2018 Virginia Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Awards.

Nominations are open to small businesses, corporations, community groups, individuals and families that exemplify extraordinary volunteerism and community service. Nomination forms must be submitted online and require two letters of support.

MIDDLETOWN, Del. (AP) — How serious is Middletown's Kevin Schatz about making volunteerism a core mission of his new brewery, built in a two-car garage?

So much so that he put it right there in the name — Volunteer Brewing Company.

But it's not just in the name to cement his brand as a community-focused brewer. It's also there to help keep his focus on a core value of his brewery.

WILMINGTON, Mass. (AP) — It all began with her passion for cheerleading.

Back when Deb Smith lived in Medford, she was the cheer coach at Arlington Catholic High School. Her eldest daughter, Christina, wanted to get involved in cheerleading herself, she joined Medford Pop Warner in 1995. When Smith decided to volunteer as a cheer coach, she did not envision dedicated two decades of her life to Pop Warner.

ROANOKE, Va. (AP) — The superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway is retiring after a four-year tenure that saw an increase in visitors and volunteerism along the scenic road.

The Roanoke Times reports (http://bit.ly/2rerljx ) Mark Woods will retire as parkway superintendent on July 3, ending a 37-year career with the National Park Service.

HARKERS ISLAND, N.C. (AP) — With climbing season about to begin, the National Park Service is looking for people to lead tours of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the national seashore.

The park service is holding an information and recruitment session on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum in Harkers Island. The park is seeking volunteers who can assist with leading tours of the lighthouse and orient park visitors during the summer.

GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) — Juvenile offenders shine the trucks, spiff up the hall, assist at bingo fundraisers and even help roll up the hoses sometimes when trucks pull back into one of Latrobe's five fire stations after a call.

A juvenile probation program that gives teens community service work at the stations has benefited the youths and the all-volunteer fire company over the past five years, said city fire Chief John Brasile.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe is praising nine individuals or organizations he says have made outstanding efforts to volunteer.

The governor recently honored recipients of the Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Awards at the executive mansion.