A Recap of This Week’s Top News – September 15, 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, September 9, to Friday, September 15. 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:

• As students start to pay federal loans after the pandemic hiatus, the Department of Education is working to market the Biden Administration’s Saving on A Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan. According to a USA Today article, the Department is partnering with over 100 organizations to reach borrowers. The plan lessens accruing interest and monthly payments for some borrowers.
• According to a recent article by The New York Times, almost half of America’s big universities require that prospective professors and faculty fill out a diversity statement as a part of their application. While critics argue that the requirement forces certain ideals onto staff, those in support say that requiring the statements in the hiring process helps ensure that new faculty and staff are prepared to create a welcoming environment for students of all backgrounds.

Health News:

• On Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two updated COVID-19 shots. By Tuesday, the new shots were endorsed by advisers to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention. According to an article by AP News, doctors are encouraging the public to get vaccinated in order to prevent another “tripledemic” of the flu, COVID-19, and RSV this winter season.
• A recent Q&A column in The New York Times advised that while you can’t offset the negative health effects of drinking alcohol, you can help maintain your health by prioritizing other healthy actions—such as eating nutritious food, going to your yearly doctor’s visit, supporting your immune system, and drinking “mindfully” when you consume alcohol.
• According to an article by AP News, FDA said that widely used decongestants, like some versions of Sudafed and Dayquil, are not effective.. The main ingredient in these medicines—phenylephrine (sometimes marked PE)—does not adequately improve congestion. Experts recommend that people searching for decongestion relief should switch to behind the counter products containing pseudoephedrine instead.