Experts available: Government shutdown stalemate ends, flights delayed, SNAP benefits, yams vs sweet potatoes, 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
Government shutdown could end after Democrats defect
The record-setting federal government shutdown could come to an end soon after eight Democratic U.S. Senators broke ranks and joined Republicans in approving a spending package that will soon head to the House for a vote. Political scientist Karen Hult can share insights on what motivated the defection, what’s in the bill, how soon the shutdown will resolve, and the political consequences going forward.
The government shutdown may soon be over, but flying will still be rough
Experts say air travel issues won’t resolve immediately after the shutdown ends. According to hospitality and tourism expert Mahmood Khan, after Federal Aviation Administration restrictions lift, it could still take days for airline schedules to return to normal. Khan can talk about planning travel around these issues ahead of the holiday. Aerospace engineering expert Ella Atkins can speak to air traffic control and the impact of the shutdown.
How quickly will SNAP return to normal operations?
Virginia Tech food insecurity expert Elena Serrano says it should be fairly routine to restart SNAP once there is federal approval and funding. She’s able to comment on what, if any issues there may be, and the effect this has had on people who need them most. **Note: Limited availability until Wednesday**
Rising Hamburger Helper sales may signal shifting consumer confidence, expert explains
Hamburger Helper, the familiar boxed mix that combines pasta and sauce with a pound of ground beef, is finding its way back into more American kitchens. Virginia Tech economist Jadrian Wooten says the renewed interest in Hamburger Helper offers insights into how families are adjusting to record beef prices and higher grocery costs, as well as a historical perspective on purchases during economic downturns. More here.
Veterans Day
Nov. 11 is Veterans Day, a U.S. holiday reserved to honor military veterans. Jason Higgins, an assistant professor and digital scholarship coordinator at Virginia Tech, focus his research on veterans’ stories of trauma and the lasting effects of war. He won a national award for his book that uncovers the stories of male and female veterans with mental health disorders who were incarcerated after serving in U.S. wars, from Vietnam to the present.
What it will take to redraw Virginia voting districts
From California to Texas to Virginia, partisan-driven redistricting by the party in power preoccupies state legislators. The Democrat-controlled Virginia Senate has approved an amendment that serves as a first step toward an unscheduled redrawing of the commonwealth’s electoral map, but it will take many more steps to realize this objective. Political scientist Nicholas Goedert can discuss procedures and ramifications.
This year’s Thanksgiving dinner guest: Shrinkflation
With grocery costs rising, Walmart’s recent announcement that its Thanksgiving family dinner would be about 25% cheaper this year seemed like welcome news. But while the dinner is intended to serve a family of 10 for less than $4 per person, people online quickly deduced that the number of actual items in the dinner has dropped from nearly 30 to less than 20, says economist Jadrian Wooten. This is a case of “shrinkflation,” in which “a smaller serving is dressed up as savings,” says Wooten. And while it’s hardly the first time a company has tried the tactic, the rapid backlash seems to indicate that the public is becoming more wary of companies trying to pass off a marketing tactic as a cost savings for consumers.
Sweet potatoes or yams: What’s really on your Thanksgiving table?
Across the southeast, farmers are busy pulling rosy, orange-fleshed vegetables from their fields – but wait, are those actually yams? Ed Olsen, a Virginia Cooperative Extension consumer horticulture specialist, says most products labeled “yams” in our supermarkets are actually orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, and what people don’t realize is that they are two different things. More here.
Podcast: It’s cold now, but what happens to black bears in VA if it warms back up?
Marcella Kelly joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about Virginia Tech, her journey into wildlife conservation, and insights on bear populations in Southwest Virginia. She explains the use of genetic sampling to study bear health, the impact of warm winters on their behavior, and how to navigate human-bear interactions.
