A Recap of This Week’s Top News – April 28, 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 22, to Friday, April 28. 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.

Education News:

• Earlier this week, the College Board announced that it will revise its Advanced Placement African American studies course again. The course has been under scrutiny from state officials since its original announcement, including Florida’s stance to reject the course earlier this year. While the Board’s specific revisions haven’t been made public yet, they will ensure students experience the “full breadth and beauty” of the discipline, according to the Washington Post.
• Education Department officials are worried that expanding agency costs and lack of funding are threatening a smooth transition into student loan borrowers starting payments again for the first time in three years.

Health News:

• On Tuesday, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy attributed social media as a definite cause of declining mental health in children. Children using social media more at a younger age is causing “more feelings of isolation, stress, and inadequacy as they constantly compare themselves to others,” said Murthy in a Twitter live stream with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
• New research from the CDC reflects an all-time low in adult cigarette usage and an increase in electronic cigarette usage. The preliminary research is based on a survey of over 27,000 adults.
• New research found that simple exercises like walking, jogging, cycling, weight training, or yoga can be vital to addiction recovery.
• Some medical professionals are linking a rise in seasonal allergies to climate change. According to 2021 research, pollen seasons are lasting longer with more pollen in the air, causing more people to suffer from seasonal allergies than in previous years.
• A recent study suggests that symptoms caused by menopause cost workplaces across the country billions of dollars in medical expenses and sick leave, alluding to a gap in assistance from both workplaces and clinicians in adequately helping women experience the “universal life transition.”