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Shrinking forces lead to innovative recruitment strategies

Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & Security

Law enforcement agencies across the United States are facing a recruitment crisis. There has reportedly been a 40-50% drop in applications, something that could spell trouble for our safety. According to a Police Executive Research Forum report, attraction and retention are both a problem. There are now fewer applicants interested in joining the force and more people leaving the profession within a few years on the job. 86 percent of police chiefs reported a shortage of sworn officers, revealing the glaring problem.

7 of the best national parks for a spring visit

Dave G. Houser Recreation & Leisure

It is always a good time to visit a national park — but certain parks are at their very best in the spring. Nature is springing (pun intended) to life, while mosquitoes, extreme heat and big crowds are mostly at a minimum. So, here's our choice of parks that reach their peak from March to May.

What to know when the only constant in today’s world is change

Linda Popky Business Management, Services & Risk Management

There’s an old Chinese curse: May you live in interesting times. We are certainly in the midst of interesting times right now. On a global perspective, we have the coronavirus pandemic that started in China but has spread around the world. There’s Brexit, which will cause considerable disruption in the European Union. Then there's the lengthy presidential election process in the U.S. and ongoing political turmoil in other countries. Here are a few things to consider as you navigate the new normal.

How US schools are reckoning with the coronavirus

Bambi Majumdar Education

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has reported that 290 million students worldwide are out of school due to the coronavirus. The outbreak that emerged in China about two months ago has now claimed over 3,000 lives and infected more than 100,000 people globally. In the U.S., there are now over 500 cases confirmed, and the death toll has risen to 22. As the United States deals with the coronavirus, the big question is: How are schools planning to respond?

US employers add 273,000 jobs; unemployment drops to 3.5%

Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk Management

In February, total U.S. nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 273,000 after January's growth of 225,000, while the unemployment rate dipped to 3.5% from 3.6% the previous month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The jobless rate has been 3.5% or 3.6% since September. In February, nearly all major groups of workers had scant change in the rate of employment versus January's figures. Meanwhile, wage growth remained rather tepid.

How technology can help to contain COVID-19 — and how it can’t

Tammy Hinojos Medical & Allied Healthcare

As the world navigates the coronavirus outbreak, a few key technologically advanced tools are front and center in the fight to contain COVID-19. Digital tools like telehealth, consumer-facing AI-based chatbots and remote patient monitoring could play a key role in assisting with containing the virus and helping people who think they might have been exposed. Some experts warn that these tools are not a total solution, but they could be helpful as one part of a large, comprehensive and integrated plan.

Opportunity zone developments spread despite being under investigation

Michelle R. Matisons Construction & Building Materials

Opportunity zones provide tax breaks for real estate developers who invest in low-income communities. Yet, numerous examples of opportunity zone (OZ) investments ignore the supposed original spirit supporting low-income, affordable housing. Democrats and Republicans in both the House and Senate criticize existing code, but disagree whether or not this is another ruling class machination to increase wealth. Some kind of opportunity zone reform seems inevitable in coming months as the Treasury Department’s inspector general investigates the program.

Infographic: The real reasons behind internet censorship around the world

Daniel Markuson Science & Technology

For millions around the world, internet outages have become the norm. For example, the Iranian government recently shut off the internet for nearly all of its population of more than 80 million. The authorities say this was done to silence protests over rising gasoline prices. But sometimes official motives for switching off the internet may be different from the actual ones. The infographic in this article takes a look at the countries with the heaviest internet censorship. It also lists their motives for cutting down access to global websites.

How the coronavirus revealed China’s importance to global travel

Bambi Majumdar Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

China is essential to the global economy, and with the coronavirus bringing the country to a grinding halt, the travel industry is feeling the repercussions. The SARS epidemic in 2002-03 and the swine flu crisis in 2009 made some impacts on global tourism, but nothing like the coronavirus. Since those years, the Chinese economy has grown and established more global connections. The International Monetary Fund estimated in 2019 that China alone accounted for 39% of global economic expansion.

State-run retirement plans are becoming more popular

Grace Ferguson Business Management, Services & Risk Management

A huge retirement savings shortfall is underway — and many are calling it a crisis. Consequently, some states are launching their own retirement savings programs for private businesses and workers. Some states have passed legislation which require employers to offer a qualified retirement plan — such as a 401(k) or SIMPLE IRA — either through the state-run program or the private market. A few other states have developed voluntary programs for private-sector businesses and workers.

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