Welcome to Virginia Tech's News Features page. Here you can preview and/or download Virginia Tech's News Features programs for use as you see fit. The programs below were distributed in November 2002. You need QuickTime 4.0 or higher to preview these audio tracks.

Archived News Features are located here.

1. “Who Takes Ephedra?” (Janet Walberg Rankin/Nutrition, Foods, & Exercise) with reporter Karen Cronin [1:06] LAWSUITS AND A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION ARE IN PROGRESS OVER PRODUCTS CONTAINING EPHEDRA. WE HEAR WHO’S TAKEN THE SUPPLEMENT IN THIS REPORT FROM VIRGINIA TECH. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

2. “Assessing Ephedra Risk” (Janet Walberg Rankin/Nutrition, Foods, & Exercise) with reporter Karen Cronin [1:00] EPHEDRA USE HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH STROKES, HEART ATTACKS, AND DEATH. WE HEAR ABOUT ASSESSING THE RISKS IN THIS REPORT FROM VIRGINIA TECH. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

3. “If you must take ephedra...” (Janet Walberg Rankin/Nutrition, Foods & Exercise) with reporter Karen Cronin [0:58] WHILE SOME REPORTS LINK EPHEDRA WITH SERIOUS HEALTH CONCERNS, MANUFACTUERES MAINTAIN THAT IT IS SAFE. WE HEAR MORE ABOUT THE CONTROVERSY IN THIS REPORT FROM VIRGINIA TECH. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

4. “Mold and Moisture” (Kathleen Parrott/Extension Housing Specialist) with reporter Karen Cronin [0:55] MOLD IS A FUNGUS THAT REQUIRES MOISTURE AND FOOD. IT WILL USE MOST ANYTHING AS FOOD, SO THE ISSUE IS MOISTURE, AS WE HEAR IN THIS REPORT FROM VIRGINIA TECH. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

5. “Mold Toxins” (Kathleen Parrott/Extension Housing Specialist) with reporter Karen Cronin [0:53] MOLD CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, AS WE HEAR IN THIS REPORT FROM VIRGINIA TECH. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

6. “The Problems with Payday Loans” (Melissa Chase/Extension Consumer Education Specialist) with reporter Gabrielle Amos [0:49] IT CAN BE TEMPTING TO GET A QUICK LOAN FROM A LOAN COMPANY, JUST TO TIDE YOU OVER UNTIL PAYDAY. BUT IN THIS REPORT FROM VIRGINIA TECH, WE LEARN WHY THAT IDEA IS ILL-ADVISED. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

7. “Alternatives to Payday Loans” (Melissa Chase/Extension Consumer Education Specialist) with reporter Gabrielle Amos [0:46] THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER AVENUES TO PURSUE BEFORE GETTING A PAYDAY LOAN, AND ACCORDING TO A VIRGINIA TECH EXPERT, ALMOST ANY OTHER OPTION IS PREFERABLE. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

8. “The Causes of Disease” (Elena Serrano/Extension Nutrition Specialist) with reporter Gabrielle Amos [0:45] THERE ARE MANY FACTORS THAT GO INTO MAKING US HEALTHY, AND THERE ARE MANY FACTORS THAT CAUSE DISEASE. WE NEED TO SEE THE BIG PICTURE, ACCORDING TO A VIRGINIA TECH EXPERT. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

9. “More Information on Food Labels” (Elena Serrano/Extension Nutrition Specialist) with reporter Gabrielle Amos [0:39] A VIRGINIA TECH EXPERT SAYS THAT YOU CAN EXPECT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOODS YOU BUY IN THE COMING MONTHS – JUST CHECK THE NUTRITION LABELS. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

10.“Genetics and Lifestyle” (Elena Serrano/Extension Nutrition Specialist) with reporter Gabrielle Amos [0:40] GIVEN YOUR GENETIC MAKE-UP, HOW YOU MANAGE YOUR HEALTH IN TERMS OF LIFESTYLE CHOICES IS CRITICAL TO YOUR FUTURE WELL-BEING, ACCORDING TO A VIRGINIA TECH EXPERT. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

11. “Bats” (Jim Parkhurst/Extension Wildlife Specialist) with reporter Paul Lancaster [1:09] BATS ARE COMMON ACROSS VIRGINIA, BUT A VIRGINIA TECH EXPERT SAYS SOME SPECIES OF BATS ARE ENDANGERED IN THE STATE. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

12. “Bats vs. Bugs” (Jim Parkhurst/Extension Wildlife Specialist) with reporter Paul Lancaster [0:54] GOT A FEAR OF BATS? A VIRGINIA TECH EXPERT SAYS YOU NEED TO WEIGH THAT AGAINST A FEAR OF BUGS. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

13. “Virginia and Health Care” (Alan Bayer/Center for Survey Research) with reporter Paul Lancaster [0:48] A VIRGINIA TECH SURVEY SHOWS THAT MORE THAN HALF OF VIRGINIANS FEEL THE STATE DOESN’T SPEND ENOUGH TO HELP PEOPLE IN NEED. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

14. “More State Help for Health Care” (Susan Willis-Walton/Center for Survey Research) with reporter Paul Lancaster [0:58] A VIRGINIA TECH SURVEY SAYS VIRGINIANS LIKE THE STATE’S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, BUT THEY SAY THE STATE NEEDS TO DO MORE. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

15. “Uninsured Virginians” (Susan Willis-Walton/Center for Survey Research) with reporter Paul Lancaster [0:46] FEWER VIRGINIANS HAVE HEALTH CARE INSURANCE…10 PERCENT FEWER THAN JUST ONE YEAR AGO. MORE FROM VIRGINIA TECH. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.