Experts available: Measles outbreak, airport Wi-Fi security, avoiding a government shutdown, and more
The Virginia Tech media relations office has the following experts available for interviews this week surrounding issues in the news. To schedule an interview, please contact mediarelations@vt.edu.
Virginia Tech experts available to discuss headlines in the news
Travelers at Dulles may have been exposed to measles, officials
Over the weekend, health officials reported a positive case of measles in Maryland. The virus was detected in a resident who traveled internationally and was unrelated to the outbreak in Texas and New Mexico. There are now concerns that people at Washington Dulles International Airport last Wednesday may have been exposed. Public health expert Lisa Lee is available to discuss concerns surrounding the measles, who’s at risk, and what communities need to do to ensure it does not spread.
Don’t leave all your airport security to TSA, cybersecurity expert says
Whether spring break travelers plan to snorkel a barrier reef or just walk on the beach, all face risks — starting when they connect to the internet via airport Wi-Fi. Virginia Tech cybersecurity expert Matthew Hicks says fraudsters troll free airport Wi-Fi signals and even impersonate those networks to get access to sensitive information such as credit card numbers and banking passwords transmitted through passengers’ laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Hicks is available to share what’s safe and what’s not and steps to protect your information while traveling. More here.
What’s needed to avoid a government shutdown
With government funding set to run out on Friday, House Republicans put forward a stopgap bill over the weekend to try to fund the government through the end of September. But the measure includes increased defense spending and cuts to other programs, signalling that it may take near-unanimous GOP support to pass. Political scientist Karen Hult can speak to the hurdles in place to keep the government open and what it will take to clear them before the end of the week.
Podcast: Public perception of affordable housing
Dustin Read joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the public perception of affordable housing, especially related to non-profit and for-profit providers. Read, head of the Blackwood Department of Real Estate in the Pamplin College of Business, explained how building public support is a critical piece of affordable housing projects and his research on the various aspects that might influence that, including profit status and development size. He also shared his insights as to the impact such developments have on neighboring properties and communities.
