Dec 05 Students around the world suffered huge learning setbacks during the pandemic, study finds By Collin Binkley, Associated Press The state of global education was given a bleak appraisal in the Program for International Student Assessment, the first study to examine academic progress in dozens of countries during the pandemic. Continue reading
Dec 02 U.S. flu cases on the rise while RSV may be peaking, health officials say By Mike Stobbe, Associated Press Flu is picking up steam while RSV lung infections that can hit kids and older people hard may be peaking. But COVID-19 continues to cause the most hospitalizations and deaths among respiratory illnesses, said CDC director Dr. Mandy Cohen. Continue reading
Oct 27 Vaccine data shows rates for latest COVID-19 booster is ‘abysmal’, only 7 percent of U.S. adults with shot By Mike Stobbe, Associated Press More than a month after federal officials recommended a new version of the COVID-19 vaccines, 7% of U.S. adults and 2% of children have gotten a shot. One expert calls the numbers “abysmal.”… Continue reading
Oct 25 Food insecurity shot up last year with inflation and the end of pandemic-era aid, a new report says By Ashraf Khalil, Associated Press A new Department of Agriculture report released Wednesday paints a sobering picture of post-pandemic hardship with "statistically significant" increases in food insecurity. Continue reading
Oct 11 Labor movements are seeing historic victories this year. Can unions keep up the momentum? By Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Associated Press From auto production lines to Hollywood, the power of labor unions is back in the national spotlight. But despite historic strikes and record contract negotiations seen this year, there's still a lot stacked against organizing today. Continue reading
Oct 11 ACT test scores for U.S. students drop to a new 30-year low By Cheyanne Mumphrey, Associated Press High school students' scores on the ACT college admissions test have dropped to their lowest in more than three decades, showing a lack of student preparedness for college-level coursework. Continue reading
Oct 04 COVID-19 vaccination cards about to become artifact of the past By Devi Shastri, Associated Press The days of keeping them tucked in purses and wallets to ensure entry into festivals, bars and restaurants are largely over, and now the ubiquitous white COVID-19 vaccination cards are being phased out. Continue reading
Sep 17 A new COVID vaccine is here, but those at greatest risk may not get it as outreach drops off By Amy Maxmen, KFF Health News The CDC says everyone over 6 months old should get the new COVID vaccine. But with the emergency response mechanisms that supported earlier vaccine campaigns gone, many who need them most won’t get them. Continue reading
Sep 12 Watch 6:28 CDC director discusses updated COVID booster as infections rise from latest variant By Amna Nawaz, Dorothy Hastings A new round of COVID-19 boosters will be available within days as cases and hospitalizations continue to rise across the country. The Food and Drug Administration approved the new shots Monday and a CDC advisory panel recommended the updated boosters… Continue watching
Sep 12 Why public health experts are concerned about BA.2.86, the latest COVID-19 variant By Suresh V. Kuchipudi, The Conversation Researchers still don’t know how well BA.2.86 will evade immunity or whether it will cause more severe disease than its predecessors. Continue reading