A Recap of This Week’s Top News – February 3, 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 some of the top news of the week.

Below you will find a compilation of news spanning the health, education, labor, and economy sectors. This list includes mainstream, DC-focused, and trade publication coverage from Saturday, January 28 to Friday, February 3. 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:

• After multiple extensions, the White House plans to end the COVID-19 national emergency this May. This change could have far-reaching impacts, especially regarding the cost of COVID-19 tests and vaccines.

Education News:

• College Board has officially announced course guidelines for an AP African American Studies course, which students can start taking in the 2024-2025 school year. The course was piloted this school year and covers ancient African history through Kamala Harris’ election in 2020.
• The Lumina Foundation recently revealed that almost 54% of adults ages 25 to 64 have obtained a postsecondary degree or credential. This not only marks the biggest increase  since Lumina began tracking degree data but also brings the U.S. closer to Lumina’s goal of reaching 60% of the working age population by 2025.
• A recent report by National Student Clearinghouse Research Center showed that declining rates of college enrollment have finally flattened after a period of decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• An analysis by the Nature Human Behavior journal equates educational loss from the COVID-19 pandemic to losing one-third of a school years’ worth of learning. According to the analysis, these losses were greater for students in low-income backgrounds or developing countries.

Health News:

• New MRI scan research shows that Black children were disproportionately affected by early childhood stress, which acted as a “toxic stressor” that affected the brain’s processing of trauma.
• A study published Monday listed COVID-19 as the 8^th most common cause of death for children in the United States.

Advancements in Health:

• More obesity training for medical school students – including implicit bias training – is essential for today’s doctors, said a George Washington University medical student.