A Recap of This Week’s Top News – June 23, 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, June 17, to Friday, June 23. 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:

• Washington D.C. public schools approved new social studies standards on Wednesday that will focus on “experiences of people of color, D.C. history, and media literacy.” The standards are expected to be fully implemented by the 2025–2026 school year.
• Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced that the state of Florida is suing the Biden administration over college accreditation requirements. The announcement comes after DeSantis has made notable changes to the state’s own accreditation processes, including blocking campus spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and requiring some Florida colleges to change accreditors within the next two years.
• On Wednesday, the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) released new data showing that school children are still far from recovering from the academic aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health News:

• According to a report from Climate Central, “mosquito days,” or days with hot and humid weather, have increased in the United States over the past few decades. The increase in mosquito days is not only alarming for climate activists, but also causes concern for public health officials over the potential health threat of Zika, malaria, West Nile, and other viruses that mosquitoes can carry.
• The S. Preventative Task Force is now recommending that doctors screen all adults for anxiety and depression—whether or not they are experiencing symptoms. This is the first time the task force has recommended routine screening of all adults, a change thought to be in relation to the increase in mental health struggles following the COVID-19 pandemic.
• A report released Thursday by The Commonwealth Fund found an increase in the rate of preventable maternal mortality in the United States. According to the report, the rate of maternal mortality “nearly doubled” and increased most for women of color.
• The CDC is recommending all Americans with international travel plans this summer ensure that they’re up to date on the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. The vaccine is a two-dose series and provides 97 percent protection against the viruses. The advisory comes as the United States and other countries attempt to keep active measles outbreaks under control.
• A new research report may have found that taking antidepressants could lessen your chance of testing positive for COVID-19. While previous reports on the topic showed mixed results, this week’s published research showed a “potential clinical benefit” of antidepressants on the spread of the virus.