Work is set to begin to remove Shull’s Mill Dam on the Watauga River in July in order to restore a healthy river ecosystem. The project will involve the relocation of eastern hellbenders, a species of special concern in North Carolina, who live in the river near the dam. Dr. Mike Gangloff, professor in App State’s Department of Biology, speaks to the importance of hellbenders, including how they can increase water and habitat quality in rivers. Gangloff is the aquatic lead researcher for the Shull’s Mill Dam removal.

This “Dean’s List” roundup in The Charlotte Observer includes information about the UNC System’s budget requests and App State’s new cybersecurity program, which will be offered through the Walker College of Business starting this fall on both the Boone and Hickory campuses. It will be the first undergraduate degree program in cybersecurity available through the UNC System in Western North Carolina.

This feature in the Watauga Democrat highlights the career of Kaaren Hayes, who recently retired after 36 years with App State’s Parent to Parent Family Support Network. Parent to Parent provides free support to families who have a premature baby or a child with a disability, or to families who are grieving the death of a child. Hayes was with Parent to Parent since its inception in 1988, and she became program director in 1998. Hayes graduated from App State in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in child development.

Health experts and athletes explore the benefits of non-alcoholic beer as a post-workout recovery drink in this GQ magazine feature. Dr. Laurel Wentz, associate professor in App State’s Nutrition and Foods Program, explains that non-alcoholic beer provides hydration effects similar to water, but also has the benefit of carbs, which the body needs to help recover after workouts. Wentz explains how pairing non-alcoholic beer with a high-protein snack can achieve similar results to sports drinks.

NCInnovation approved $5.2 million in funding for eight research projects at seven North Carolina public universities. One of the projects to receive funding is App State’s beehive improvement and monitoring system, developed by Dr. Rahman Tashakkori, professor and chair in the Department of Computer Science. The Beemon system presents a unique and innovative tool for decreasing honeybee die-off and increasing hive production by allowing beekeepers to monitor hives with efficient and accurate data.

In this article in Fortune Well, health experts dive into the science behind trending hot and cold therapies, like saunas and cold plunges, and whether or not they are safe for children. Caroline Smith, associate professor in App State’s Department of Public Health and Exercise Science, helps explain the benefits of these types of therapies and how to manage the risks. Smith is director of App State’s Thermal and Microvascular Physiology Laboratory.

Home insurance rates in Florida have soared in recent years, making it the most expensive state to insure a house. Financial and environmental experts — including Dr. Lori Medders, professor and chair in App State’s Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance — explain how multiple factors are contributing to high insurance rates in the state, including extreme weather, inflation and lack of options.

This feature in Marketplace explores a recent report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which finds that the biggest credit card issuers in the U.S. charge higher interest rates and fees than smaller banks and credit unions. Neel Das, professor in App State’s Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management, explains how brand recognition is one of the main reasons why consumers choose certain credit cards, even if their interest rates are higher. Das advises consumers to consider the whole package, and not just a familiar name, when choosing a credit card.

This Q&A in Border Belt Independent features Jessica Cory, a lecturer in App State’s Department of English, who speaks about her interest in the Lumbee tribe and her inspiration to write about the significance of tribal history. Cory talks about her journey as a writer and what she hopes people will gain from reading her article, “The Politics of Recognition and the Power of Place in Lumbee Women’s Poetry,” which was published by the North Carolina Literary Review.