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 January 2003. You need QuickTime 4.0 or higher to preview these audio tracks.

Archived News Features are located here.

1. “What to Do with the Old Poinsettia” (Diane Relf/Extension Horticulture) with reporter Karen Cronin [0:53] IF YOUR ONCE-BEAUTIFUL POINSETTIA HAS SEEN BETTER DAYS, YOU MAY BE WONDERING WHAT TO DO WITH IT. WE HEAR ONE EXPERT’S ADVICE IN THIS REPORT FROM VIRGINIA TECH. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

2. “New Life for Holiday Decorations” (Diane Relf/Extension Horticulture) with reporter Karen Cronin [0:52] HOLIDAY WREATHS AND GARLANDS MADE OF NATURAL MATERIALS CAN BE RE-USED WHEN THE HOLIDAYS ARE OVER, AS WE HEAR IN THIS REPORT FROM VIRGINIA TECH. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

3. “Recycling Your Tree” (Diane Relf/Extension Horticulture) with reporter Karen Cronin [0:48] ONCE YOU NO LONGER WANT YOUR TREE TO GRACE THE INSIDE OF YOUR HOME, YOU CAN PUT IT TO GOOD USE OUTSIDE, AS WE HEAR IN THIS REPORT FROM VIRGINIA TECH. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

4. “Supplements and FDA” (Janet W. Rankin/Nutrition, Foods, & Exercise) with reporter Karen Cronin [1:04] EPHEDRA IS NOW UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION AND LAWSUITS ARE IN PROGRESS. IN THIS REPORT FROM VIRGINIA TECH, WE HEAR WHY QUESTIONABLE PRODUCTS ARE ON THE MARKET. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

5. “Why Supplements Have Less Regulation” (Janet W. Rankin/Nutrition, Foods, & Exercise) with reporter Karen Cronin [0:54] DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS ARE NOT REGULATED AS STRINGENTLY AS FOODS OR DRUGS. WE HEAR WHY IN THIS REPORT FROM VIRGINIA TECH. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

6. “Content of Supplements” (Janet W. Rankin/Nutrition, Foods, & Exercise) with reporter Karen Cronin [1:05] FDA DOES NOT REGULATE SUPPLEMENTS AND INTERVENES ONLY AFTER HEARING COMPLAINTS. SO CONSUMERS NEED TO BE WARY, AS WE HEAR IN THIS REPORT FROM VIRGINIA TECH. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

7. “Dealing with Large Amount of Mold” (Kathleen Parrott/Extension Housing Specialist) with reporter Karen Cronin [0:51] WHETHER YOU NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP TO CLEAN UP A MOLD PROBLEM MAY DEPEND ON HOW MUCH MOLD THERE IS, AS WE HEAR IN THIS REPORT FROM VIRGINIA TECH. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

8. “Smart Eating at Holiday Parties” (Elena Serrano/Extension Nutrition) with reporter Gabrielle Amos [0:44] IF THE HOLIDAYS CHALLENGE YOUR WEIGHT LOSS PLANS, HERE’S ADVICE FROM A VIRGINIA TECH EXPERT THAT MIGHT HELP YOU WIN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

9. “Fill Up, Not Out, this Holiday Season” (Elena Serrano/Extension Nutrition) with reporter Gabrielle Amos [0:47] YOU DON’T HAVE TO DEPRIVE YOURSELF OF YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY FOODS IF YOU USE SOME COMMON SENSE, SAYS A VIRGINIA TECH EXPERT. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

10. “Eat Less, Enjoy More” (Elena Serrano/Extension Nutrition) with reporter Gabrielle Amos [0:55] PROMISING YOURSELF THAT YOU’LL AVOID SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE HIGH CALORIE FOODS OFTEN DOESN’T WORK, ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOLIDAYS. A VIRGINIA TECH EXPERT SAYS THAT PORTION CONTROL IS A BETTER, MORE REALISTIC ANSWER. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

11. “Stay Active During the Holidays” (Elena Serrano/Extension Nutrition) with reporter Gabrielle Amos [0:52] AS THOSE HOLIDAY POUNDS TRY TO CREEP ON, KEEP THEM AT BAY WITH EXERCISE, SAYS A VIRGINIA TECH EXPERT. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

12. “Bringing the Holidays Home” (Celia Ray Hayhoe/Extension Family Resource Management) with reporter Gabrielle Amos [0:55] A VIRGINIA TECH EXPERT SAYS THAT KEEPING FOCUSED ON WHAT THE HOLIDAYS ARE ALL ABOUT IS THE BEST WAY TO KEEP YOUR PRIORITIES IN ORDER. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

13. “Focus the Holidays on Others” (Celia Ray Hayhoe/Extension Family Resource Management) with reporter Gabrielle Amos [1:00] THE HOLIDAYS CAN BE A REWARDING TIME OF YEAR IF YOU SPEND SOME TIME HELPING THOSE LESS FORTUNATE, SAYS A VIRGINIA TECH EXPERT. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

14. “Give a Gift of Yourself” (Melissa Chase/Extension Consumer Education) with reporter Gabrielle Amos [0:47] A GIFT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE TO BE MEANINGFUL, ACCORDING TO A VIRGINIA TECH EXPERT. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

15. “Water that Tree” (John Trobaugh/Reynolds Homestead Research Center) with reporter Paul Lancaster [1:04] BUYING A CHRISTMAS TREE…ESPECIALLY ONE OFF A TREE LOT…MEANS A LITTLE EXTRA WORK WHEN YOU GET HOME. MORE FROM VIRGINIA TECH. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

16. “Keep Your Tree Fresh” (John Trobaugh/Reynolds Homestead Research Center) with reporter Paul Lancaster [0:49] WHEN YOU'RE SETTING OUT GIFTS UNDER THE TREE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, DON'T FORGET A BIG GIFT FOR THE TREE ITSELF. MORE FROM VIRGINIA TECH. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

17. “Gifts with Screens” (Tom Sherman/Education) with reporter Paul Lancaster [0:54] IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT A COMPUTER OR CELL PHONE FOR YOUR CHILD FOR CHRISTMAS, A VIRGINIA TECH PROFESSOR SAYS YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT HE OR SHE MAY BE MISSING AS A RESULT. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

18. “Face-to-Face” (Tom Sherman/Education) with reporter Paul Lancaster [0:50] DO YOU TALK TO YOUR CHILD MORE ON THE CELL PHONE, OR FACE-TO-FACE? A VIRGINIA TECH PROFESSOR SAYS IT COULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

19. “Dealing with Coyotes” (Jim Parkhurst/Extension Wildlife Specialist) with reporter Paul Lancaster [1:02] A STATE PROGRAM IS TEACHING FARMERS HOW TO DEAL WITH A RELATIVELY NEW AND INCREASING THREAT TO THEIR LIVESTOCK. MORE FROM VIRGINIA TECH. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

20. “Dog or Coyote?” (Jim Parkhurst/Extension Wildlife Specialist) with reporter Paul Lancaster [0:55] A VIRGINIA TECH PROFESSOR SAYS IT'S GETTING MORE AND MORE LIKELY THAT A DOG YOU SEE OUT IN THE FIELD MAY ACTUALLY BE A COYOTE. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.

21. “Identifying Coyotes” (Jim Parkhurst/Extension Wildlife Specialist) with reporter Paul Lancaster [0:48] HOW CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN A COYOTE AND A MEDIUM-SIZED DOG? A VIRGINIA TECH PROFESSOR HAS SOME TIPS. PC version. Mac version. Wav version.