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Small towns have highest risk of intimate partner violence

Despite common perceptions that big cities have more violence, women living in small towns are most at risk of violence from current or former spouses and partners, according to a recent study by Washington State University criminologist Kathryn DuBois.

“In criminology, we often have this urban bias. We assume big cities are the worst and paint other places as idyllic,” said DuBois, associate professor at WSU Vancouver. “We tend to think in a continuum from urban to suburban to rural, but for intimate partner violence, it’s actually the suburban areas that are the safest, and small towns that have the highest risk.”

The National Crime Victimization Survey collects information through a large sample of interviews about a range of personal crimes committed every year. Part of the intent of the survey is to uncover the “dark figure” of crime, DuBois said, those crimes that may not be reported to police.

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Phys.org
WSU Insider
Player.FM

Oregon scientists team up to use big data to address societal challenges

Data scientists from Oregon’s three largest universities working with colleagues at Washington State University have received a $1.4 million National Science Foundation grant to help fellow scientists across the Northwest address challenges such as earthquake preparedness, securing electrical power systems, and improved environmental health.

Stephanie Porter.
Porter
Tanya Cheeke.
Cheeke

The funding will provide access to those technologies to a range of scientists at institutions across the Northwest to help them generate discoveries in fields including biology, forestry, engineering, energy and marine sciences.

WSU partners in the research are Tanya Cheeke, assistant professor of microbial ecology in the school of biological sciences, and Stephanie Porter, assistant professor in the school of biological sciences at WSU Vancouver.

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KTVZ

Compliance with CDC guidelines: what makes a difference?

In March, seeking to control the spread of COVID-19 within their jurisdictions, countries and states ordered businesses closed and asked employees to work from home, if possible. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control developed a list of recommended preventative health behaviors for all Americans, including social distancing, wearing facial coverings in public, frequent handwashing, and limiting non-essential trips from home.

Hyun Jung Lee.
Lee
Tahira Probst.
Probst

Tahira Probst, professor of psychology at WSU Vancouver and an expert in occupational health psychology, and Hyun Jung Lee, a graduate student in her lab, were curious to know more. Based on her lab’s prior work linking economic stressors (such as job insecurity and financial strain) with workplace safety behaviors, they designed a study to explore the relationship between these stressors and COVID-19 prevention behaviors among employees.

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WSUV Research

‘Huge chasm’ in Clark County GOP headlines primary elections

Washington state’s primary elections are Tuesday. In Clark County, staunchly right ideals – backed by the local GOP – will be facing off against a right-of-center ethos that moderate Republicans say is best for the county’s purple districts.

And while primaries often reveal a party’s fault lines, political experts and candidates said there is a particularly bitter recent history among Clark County Republicans.

Mark Stephan.Infighting occurs constantly within the two umbrella parties, said Mark Stephan, a political science instructor at Washington State University Vancouver. It may be less noticeable in Democrats today, however, because political groups coalesce more if they have a common enemy.

“That was true for Hillary Clinton, that is true for Donald Trump,” Stephan said. “That tends to get people to focus a bit on opposition rather than each other. That can help.”

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OPB

Douglas Gast 1974-2020

Douglas Gast.
Doug Gast

Douglas Paul Gast, 46, associate professor of fine arts and director of the Digital Technology & Culture degree program at WSU Tri-Cities, peacefully departed this life on Sunday, August 2, 2020 at his residence. Born July 1, 1974 in Bainbridge, Georgia, he was the son of Linda L. Macom and Michael F. Gast.

Doug received his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina, master’s in Communication Studies from Baylor University, and an MFA in Electronic Art from the University of Cincinnati. Since 2005, he has served Washington State University Tri-Cities and its students. He always extended a listening ear, words of encouragement and a helping hand to family, friends, and students.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made by mail to the Douglas P. Gast Scholarship and Travel Fund in Fine Arts and Digital Technology & Culture Endowment # 7246-0127, c/o Don Shearer, Associate Vice President, Washington State University Foundation, PO Box 643528, Pullman, WA 99164 or online at https:// foundation.wsu.edu/give/ (Type Gast in Search).

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Legacy