A Recap of This Week’s Top News – November 17, 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, November 11, to Friday, November 17. 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:

• Academic achievement for students in America faltered during the pandemic and has largely not recovered since. Recent data suggests this may be due to student attendance. The data shows that students are missing more school now than before the pandemic and is dramatically worse in high-poverty schools.
• According to research published in the Psychological Medicine journal, children below age 9 who spend 12 hours per week reading for pleasure tend to do better on cognitive tests and have better mental health when they are adolescents than those who have not developed this habit. Benefits include better memory, speech development, and academic achievement and fewer signs of stress or depression and behavioral problems.

Health News:

• A new analysis of studies conducted over the last 50 years shows that common pesticides used in homes, gardens, lawns, and sprayed on food are contributing to a large decline in sperm count among men worldwide. Men who were most exposed to the pesticides, such as those who work in agriculture, had significantly less sperm concentration than men who less exposure.
• A new study finds that people who commit daily “micro-acts” of joy experience a 25% increase in emotional well-being throughout the course of a week. Examples include making a gratitude list, doing a nice gesture for a friend, celebrating another person’s joy, and visiting a sick neighbor.