Expert Pitches

Rural communities help fuel the nation, though decades of aging and deteriorating infrastructure have stifled the potential of the American economy and way of life, according to West Virginia University experts. A proposed $2 trillion federal infrastructure plan, announced by the Biden administration, could bridge the gap between rural and urban America in more ways than one: opening access to jobs, healthcare and education, and boosting the economy.

The ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline, which has sparked fears of a gasoline shortage, exposes vulnerabilities within critical infrastructure systems in the U.S., according to a West Virginia University cybersecurity expert.

A critical fuel shortage is unlikely, despite reports of panic buying and hoarding of gasoline along the East Coast, according to a West Virginia University supply chain expert.

West Virginia University experts are available to delve into various angles surrounding the latest U.S. Census Bureau data, which showed the Mountain State losing 65,000 residents from 2010 to 2020.

Although West Virginia will lose one of three congressional seats - based on a decline of nearly 65,000 residents in new U.S. Census Bureau data - the overall damage may be minimal, according to a West Virginia University political scientist. John Kilwein believes that Sen. Joe Manchin’s current prominence in the U.S. Senate shows that individual members of Congress can be as, or more, influential than the number of seats a state holds on Capitol Hill.

They’re coming but there’s no need to fear (although you may want to reach for some earplugs). Brood X periodical cicadas are set to emerge in at least 15 states – including West Virginia - in late May, according to scientists with the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design.

Spring is here and the Easter holiday is around the corner, which means farm and feed stores everywhere have cute baby animals, such as bunnies and chicks, available for purchase. While you may be tempted to bring home a bunny or some chicks as a holiday gift for your children, West Virginia University Extension Service Agents Natasha Harris and Jesica Streets have shared a few considerations before making the investment.

NASA rover Perseverance landed on the surface of Mars Thursday, Feb. 18, and West Virginia University geologist Kathleen Benison is on the scientific team choosing which Martian rocks to bring back to Earth for study.

Earlier this week, Old Man Winter packed a dual punch of ice and snow that blanketed a large part of the U.S., including southwestern West Virginia. In addition to causing power outages and dangerous roads, ice storms also present a number of hazards for landowners, including severe damage to forests and the value of timber. WVU Extension Service Forestry Resources Specialist David McGill notes it’s important for landowners to remain calm and seek out resources to develop a plan to address the damage.

One West Virginia University financial expert believes the recent stock surges of GameStop and other companies undermine public confidence in the market and could ultimately harm the economy. A coordinated effort by individual traders on social media platforms has manipulated prices for GameStop, AMC Entertainment, Blackberry and others, said Alexander Kurov, Fred T. Tattersall Research Chair and Professor of Finance in the John Chambers College of Business and Economics. GameStop stock shot up more than 1,700% since early January and, now, some trading platforms are restricting trades on the video game retailer.