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Expert Alert
June 2008

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U.S. Supreme Court strikes down District of Columbia’s 32 year handgun ban
June 26, 2008

The Supreme Court ruled today that Americans have a right to own guns for self-defense and hunting. The court’s 5-4 decision, the first major ruling on gun rights in U.S. history, struck down the District of Columbia’s 32 year ban on handguns. A U of M expert who can speak on this case is:

Dale Carpenter, University of Minnesota, Law School Professor
Carpenter can discuss the arguments in this benchmark case and the ramifications that the ruling could have on both federal and state gun laws.

To interview professor Carpenter, contact Drew Swain at (612) 625-8962 or dswain@umn.edu.

Humans controlling nature like never before: but what are the consequences?
June 24, 2008

Sculpting the flow of rivers with levees and dams, sprawling developments on all types of terrain and farming the land on a massive scale -- humans have an insatiable desire to control Mother Nature. But what effect will this have on the population and the planet?

A University of Minnesota expert explains: Fotis Sotiropoulos, University of Minnesota civil engineering professor As director of the university’s St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL), Sotiropoulos can speak to the trends, past and present, of environmentally responsible engineering. SAFL’s ongoing research focuses on aquatic ecosystem restoration, sustainable management of water resources and landscapes and renewable energy.

To interview Sotiropoulos, contact Drew Swain at (612) 625-8962 or dswain@umn.edu; or Maia Homstad, (612) 624-6283 or homst004@umn.edu.

A year after being “un-endangered“: checking in on the status of the Bald Eagle
- Friday is American Eagle Day -
June 19, 2008

This Friday is American Eagle Day, a time of observance for the nation’s revered emblem, and it comes a year after the bird was taken off the endangered species list. How is the eagle population doing today? A University of Minnesota eagle expert weighs in:

Juli Ponder, University of Minnesota Raptor Center executive director
Ponder has studied and worked with bald eagles as a veterinarian for more than 15 years. She can discuss the thriving  bald eagle population, why it has happened and current legislation that protects them. She can also discuss the health threats eagles face in the wild. The university’s Raptor Center specializes in the care and study of eagles, hawks, owls and falcons and treats more than 800 birds a year.

To interview Ponder, contact Drew Swain at (612) 625-8962 or dswain@umn.edu; or Elizabeth Giorgi at (612) 624-0214 or egiorgi@umn.edu.

The role of today's father
June 11, 2008

This Sunday is America’s 100th year of celebrating Father’s Day, and University of Minnesota family experts are available to discuss the changing role of fatherhood:

William Doherty, University of Minnesota family social science professor
Doherty says, “Today’s new generation of fathers are the most involved, hands-on group in the history of the world -- but this typically only occurs if they are married and in a good relationship with the mother.”

Kathleen Olson, University of Minnesota Extension family relations specialist and professor
Since fathers have a significant role with their children, says Olson, it is important for dads to combine nurturance, love and attention along with setting limits and providing positive discipline, guidance and structure.

To interview Doherty or Olson, contact Drew Swain at (612) 625-8962 or dswain@umn.edu; or Elizabeth Giorgi at (612) 624-0214 or egiorgi@umn.edu.

Red menace: Tomatoes pulled from store shelves
June 10, 2008

Restaurants and stores nationwide have stopped serving and certain varieties of tomatoes in response to an outbreak of salmonella that has sickened more than 150 people since April. University of Minnesota food safety experts are:

JoEllen Feirtag and Francisco Diez-Gonzalez, professors, U of M department of Food Science and Nutrition
Fiertag and Diez-Gonzalez can explain how food-processing techniques both at the consumer and the producer level can affect the safety of fresh produce. Both have extensive experience on the topic of food safety, especially as it relates to fresh fruits and vegetables. They are part of a three-year study examining how bacteria survive on vegetables and how farm practices could prevent outbreaks of food-borne illness.

To interview either Feirtag or Diez-Gonzalez, contact Drew Swain at (612) 625-8962 or dswain@umn.edu or Becky Beyers at bbeyers@umn.edu or (612) 626-5754.