Expert Pitches

With the holiday season quickly approaching, some people are filled with the anticipation of spending time with loved ones, goodies galore and feasting on favorite dishes. Less welcome are the calories that those carb-laden meals and delicious candies carry. West Virginia University Extension Service Family and Community Development Agent Dana Wright offers some tips to help people be proactive with holiday weight management skills.

November is American Diabetes Awareness Month, and with one in 10 West Virginians being affected by the disease, it can be an important time for people to learn more. West Virginia University Extension Service Family and Commmunity Development Agent Cheryl Kaczor has some helpful tips and resources to help people affected by diabetes.

As we enter the 2021 fall hunting season, it is important for new and veteran hunters to remember that hunter safety is the first and most important step towards a successful hunt. Regardless of experience level, it is always good practice to implement simple safety steps that make a big difference. WVU Extension Service Wildlife Specialist Sheldon Owen wants hunters to know that they can have fun while also making sure safety comes first.

All-terrain vehicles are a common sight in West Virginia. Many of the state’s residents use the vehicles to head into the woods for leaf peeping, hunting and other activities. West Virginia University Extension Service experts David Snively and Haley Rosson remind people to always keep safety and proper training in mind when using ATVs.

Changing Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a way to acknowledge the first people to live in the land that is now the U.S. More than a dozen states and nearly 150 cities, including Columbus, Ohio, commemorate Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a time to help educate, end negative stereotypes and counter centuries of cultural erasure, according to Bonnie Brown, Native American Studies Coordinator at West Virginia University.

With supply chain issues resulting from severe weather and the ongoing pandemic, holiday shopping may be challenging. Add in factory shutdowns and shipping delays, planning and smart spending will be more important than before.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many people to transition to working from home, some are finding it difficult to sleep. According to one West Virginia University neuroscientist, this problem is caused by disruptions to the circadian rhythms that regulate our sleep-wake cycle.

A West Virginia University hydrology researcher believes that a U.S. District Court judge’s tossing of a Trump-era rule that allowed pollution including industrial waste, pesticides and other chemicals to be discharged into small streams and other waterways will help protect the nation’s water supply.

A West Virginia University researcher who has worked with refugees and women in the Arab world believes the United States has a legal and moral obligation to aid the Afghan population after the Taliban’s takeover.

Samantha Scarneo-Miller, who directs West Virginia University’s Master of Science in Athletic Training Program, provides tips that casual athletes—and even non-athletes—can steal from the field of athletic training to protect themselves against exertional heat stroke. She also explains why that protection is vital in the first place.