App State alumnus Moss Brennan '21 talks about the challenges he faced as both a journalist and a first responder in Watauga County during Hurricane Helene. Brennan is the editor of the Watauga Democrat and volunteers with the Deep Gap Fire Department and Watauga County Rescue Squad. He graduated from App State with a degree in journalism in 2021.

Floridians could pay for Hurricane Milton through surcharges imposed on their insurance policies and potentially higher premiums for property coverage. Dr. Lori Medders, professor in App State’s Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance, noted there was already a lot of pressure on the property insurance market in Florida before hurricanes Helene and Milton and that these events will make the challenged market even worse.

Many homeowners in North Carolina won’t be insured against flooding or landslides from Hurricane Helene due to the fragmented way in which disasters are covered. Dr. David Marlett, professor in App State’s Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance, breaks down property insurance markets for homes and the many factors that can have negative impacts on policies.

Anthony Love, research operations and laboratories manager in App State’s Department of Geological and Environmental Studies, talks about his meteor collection in this TV feature. Love and other meteorite hunters are working to find rocks from the apparent meteor that passed over the High Country on Aug. 30.

The Wall Street Journal features a photo of App State’s solar vehicle ROSE (Racing on Solar Energy) in this article about how the American Solar Challenge (ASC) — an international solar vehicle distance road race — has become a prime source for recruiting talent in the automotive industry. App State’s Team Sunergy placed second in ASC this summer, and has done historically well in the competition since first entering in 2016.

Rebecca Newman, the assistant director/well-being coordinator in App State’s veterinary technology program, is the featured guest on this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast. In the episode, Newman shares strategies on how to overcome self-care challenges in the demanding world of veterinary medicine.

In this MoneyGeek article, economics experts offer insight into rational choice theory, which holds that people make rational decisions to maximize their self-interest. Dr. Neel Das, professor in App State’s Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management, explains how the theory impacts people’s daily lives when it comes to finances.

Higher education institutions across the country have been working to provide support for student veterans since the G.I. Bill was signed into law in 1944. However, new research suggests that the services are not necessarily reaching as many veterans as they could, particularly at rural community colleges. Experts, including Dr. Andrew Koricich, a professor of higher education at App State, explain ways that colleges can better reach veteran learners in rural areas.

Funding from the recent $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill has supported dam removal projects across the nation. This article in the Associated Press highlights the Shull’s Mill Dam removal project in Boone, which included the relocation of rare eastern hellbender salamanders. App State biology professor Dr. Michael Gangloff, who is coordinating the biological monitoring at the Shull’s Mill site, said the dam removal is expected to improve water quality and make the river more hospitable for salamanders.