DATA POINTS
- 3: The number of days until the first presidential debate between Trump and Harris
- 9: The number of states that have enacted policies on K-12 school cellphone usage
- 30: The percentage of Americans who live alone
- 10,200: The number of hotel workers who went on strike last week
- $26,308: The 2024 average annual in-state cost of attendance at a four-year college
- 29.2 M: The number of people who play fantasy football in the U.S.
The Big Biden Bounce Back
President Biden, despite no longer running for re-election, is having his moment in the sun. His approval rating has risen from 41% in late June to 48% today – his best numbers since January 2021. Why? Historically, presidents become substantially more liked after they leave office, and with Biden on his way out, his numbers are on the up and up. There is a likely convention bump playing in his favor as well.
Another main indicator, however, is that Democrat-nominee Kamala Harris’ polls are rising. Although she only has a 43.8% approval rating, she is a rising star after experiencing a 36.8% approval rating in early July. The largest (and most likely) reason for Biden’s boost is that voters’ main concern of his presidency was his age. Now that he is not facing a second term, voters can rest on his achievements rather than whether he’s up for the job for another four years – effectively easing their minds about his prospects.
Read more at The Washington Post
NFL: New Fielding Limitations
The NFL decided that it will be implementing two big changes into the upcoming 2024-2025 season. The most notable change is coming to how kickoffs operate. The new format, the dynamic kickoff, adjusts where each team arranges the kicker on the 35-yard line and the receiving team lines up on their 40-yard line. The 20-yard line becomes the landing zone. If the ball doesn’t reach it, it is placed on the 40-yard line. If the ball goes into the end zone, it is placed on the 30-yard line. Since only 22% of all kickoffs were returned last year, the objective is to limit how often players collide with each other after gaining full momentum by running the whole field.
League owners also unanimously voted to ban hip-drop tackles, which occurs when a tackler grabs the runner with both hands and turns his hips to force the runner to the ground. This type of tackle has an increased risk of injury as the defensive player often lands on the runner’s legs below the knee.
The NFL consistently changes its own rules to ensure that the game is exciting and as safe as possible. If it had never implemented changes, players could grab facemasks, substitutions would be prohibited, the offense could line up a yard from the sideline, and the offense would be penalized for throwing more than one pass during a series of downs. Yikes. These changes either come from the game evolving and requiring new rules to keep up, or unique circumstances that force the Committee to re-evaluate (see Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception).
Viewers and players alike can expect to see more flags thrown on the play as referees adapt to calling the new rules.
Raising the Next Generation on Burnout and Low Pay
The school year has only just begun, and teachers have already hit the wall. Students’ inappropriate behavior, cellphone usage in class, disturbingly low pay, and a wave of AI-fueled cheating have educators on the ropes. Only 42% of teachers say the stress and disappointment of their job is “worth it,” a stark contrast to 70% prior to COVID. Surveys show an increase in students’ mental health challenges and misbehavior that has become a leading driver of teacher burnout, especially this early in the school year.
Teaching has always been a tradeoff between dealing with student behavior, limited pay, and challenging upward mobility, for the benefits of job stability, a decent retirement, and a sense of purpose. Teachers are increasingly not accepting those terms. Educator exit rates are through the roof, which may become a problem down the road to fill these positions.
Read More at Wall Street Journal
Wind in Our Sails
Renewable projects are mean, green, energy-producing machines – and they are exceptional at creating job opportunities wherever they are found. Wind turbine service technician jobs are by far the hottest and fastest growing career paths in the country (and have been for years). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the role is expected to grow by 60% between 2023 and 2033. And it’s not just wind techs. Clean energy jobs increased by 142,000 last year alone, doubling the employment growth rate of the whole economy. As of last year, 3.3 million Americans went to work providing for community needs in the renewable energy, energy efficiency, and storage and grid modernization fields.
Even better, the Clean Grid Alliance found U.S. veterans make up almost 10% of the national clean energy workforce as clean energy offers servicemembers a pathway to continue serving their country’s needs at home. Are you ready to change careers and invest yourself in the future of America’s landscape? The Dakotas, Colorado, New York, Iowa, and Texas are setting the gold standard for hiring more clean energy workers every day.
The Cost of Corona (Not the Beer)
While the newest set of COVID-19 booster shots are available nationwide, they are no longer free. Those without health insurance may be paying up to $200 per shot to ensure they are covered against the virus. The disease still waxes and wanes, making passes through the country over the course of the year. Now, those without coverage or living paycheck-to-paycheck need to decide whether being safe from symptoms (which still cause long-term complications) is worth the cost of admission. Now, patient advocacy organizations, nonprofits, and community support groups are helping people get the vaccine who can’t afford it.
Herd immunity via vaccination remains paramount to preventing wide-scale outbreaks, but with only 22% of adults staying up-to-date on boosters, the case against COVID is still out with the jury. Congressional funding for the programs enabling free vaccine access was cut short to avoid a government shutdown and President Biden’s Vaccines for Adults programs did not make it through Congressional muster.
For those interested in receiving the booster, many insurance plans will cover the shot. For those who are uninsured or underinsured, community programs may be able to help.
Read More at The Washington Post
See you next week!
Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for more news and industry updates. To receive a copy of The Weekender in your inbox, sign up here.
