A Recap of This Week’s Top News – April 14, 2023

Changes to policy, scientific discovery, and expert recommendations and opinions all have the power to rapidly influence the landscape of a sector. Whether you’re a leader at a non-profit, a member of a university’s marketing department, or a stakeholder for a public health agency, being informed about the latest industry happenings can be the difference between exceeding and falling short of organizational goals. At Hager Sharp, our experts vigorously scan media coverage to identify areas of opportunity. And now, with the introduction of the Sharp Round-Up, you too can review what we consider to be some of the top news of the week.

Below you will find a compilation of news spanning the health and education, labor, and economy sectors. This list includes mainstream, DC-focused, and trade publication coverage from Saturday, April 8, to Friday, April 14. Let these clips serve as a resource when developing thoughtful strategies and use them to further foster organizational innovation and adaptability.

Here’s what you need to know.

Mainstream News:

• A new report by the CDC showed that the suicide rate increased between 2020 to 2021 in the United States and was the highest increase the country has seen in 20 years.
• A recent Alabama bill would let parents opt-out of school-enforced mask mandates. The legislation, called a “parental rights bill,” is another example of disagreements surrounding public health orders that exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• New York, California, Colorado, Washington D.C., Illinois, Massachusetts, and New Mexico announced a $462 million settlement with Juul this week against legal action saying that the e-cigarette company targeted their products to adolescents and young adults. 

Education News:

• The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University have collaborated to build Axim Collaborative, a nonprofit aimed at creating more innovation in learning and addressing disparities in postsecondary education. The $800 million collaborative plans to provide support to students in their academic ventures to help them better prepare for college and future careers opportunities.
• The Biden Administration spoke on a current Supreme Court case, supporting students who were at risk of being reassigned debt that had been relieved last summer. The Education Department’s comment is the latest installment in Sweet vs. Cardona, a lawsuit filed in 2019 regarding borrower defense claims.
• An opinion article in the Chronicle of Higher Education discussed the harm of grade point average (GPA) inflation across the nation and how universities are avoiding addressing the problem with students.

Health News:

• New research shows mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 infections in mothers didn’t hinder brain development for babies in the womb when compared to babies with no known COVID-19 exposure.
• A recent report revealed that legal abortions in the United States decreased by six percent following the Supreme Court’s ruling to end the right to abortion in June. The data does not account for those who obtained abortion services illegally or outside the country, including online pill services that are sourced outside of the United States.