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February 2018 Summary of Select Trends
Click on the source in (parenthesis) to visit the full article Public Health Influenza Just Getting Started So far, this flu season hasn’t even peaked yet, say the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Only Hawaii has been spared of this year’s brutal flu season in the U.S. The CDC issues a weekly flu report each Friday which provides data on current week and cumulative data on regional reporting to express the spread of disease, as well as test results from public health laboratories to indicate intensity. (CNN) Technology Security Risk with Intel Chips Data security breaches have become routine over the past few years. Identity theft is commonplace. But, what about a massive chip flaw in computers across the globe? Announced shortly after the New Year, Intel disclosed a chip flaw leaving most processor chips and the PCs that house them susceptible to two vulnerabilities – Meltdown and Spectre. An attacker could potentially steal any data on that vulnerable system. Affected chips include “most chips” made since 1995. (Axios) Technology Mobile Data’s Unexpected Discoveries Strava, a fitness-tracking app, updated an online map over the weekend of January 27, 2018. The 1 billion routes in 2017 posted have shed light to secret U.S. military bases in Turkey, Syria, and Yemen in otherwise middle-of-nowhere areas of the world. Exposure isn’t limited to the U.S. military operations, as routes identify apparent Chinese joggers in the South China Sea, as well as workers on Taiwan’s secret missile bases. (Business Insider) Community Municipal Lead One-third of water utilities serving the public are not yet covered by clean-water laws that limit toxic pollutants, the Environmental Protection Agency says. Not to mention, the water may be safe, but the pipes may not be. The water crisis in Flint, Mich. is hardly the only of its type in the U.S. – but it may certainly be the biggest. Over the years, other local water authorities have found unsafe levels of lead in their water and had to make adjustments to their budget and water treatment techniques. (NY Times) Technology A Rising Bubble Is cryptocurrency the bubble of the 2010s? Bitcoin has had a tumultuous past few weeks. Most recently, the largest digital currency dropped 12 percent on January 30. Overall, the digital currency market is declining, but experts cannot find a singular driving force behind the drop. (CNBC) Community Reporting Sexual Abuse Victims of sexual abuse and misconduct must go to the police – and specifically not their college campus police. Michigan State is the most recent reminder that only a law enforcement agency is equipped to swiftly and appropriately handle these cases. In the recent past, Penn State and Baylor are examples of this too, and universities and employers alike need to take note. (Forbes) Demographics The Price of Stress Stress-related illnesses and injuries are estimated to cost the U.S. more than $300 billion per year. A study by the American Psychological Association found people with low incomes and/or a racial or ethnic background experience greater levels of stress than their more affluent, white counterparts. (Science Daily) Demographics Emerging Federal Policy Net neutrality, tax reform, and health care are in the hot seat early this year and will likely shape federal policy for the remainder of 2018. Each year, the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission releases accomplishments in a past year report. Topics of this year’s report include: Consumer protection enforcement, privacy and data security enforcement extensions, small business and healthcare competition advocacy efforts. (FTC.gov) Economics and Business Implementing an Income Floor One city is moving forward with a basic income system, starting with a study set to launch this summer in Stockton, Calif., the largest city to file for bankruptcy in U.S. history. In 2012, the city was unable to pay its workers, pensioners and bondholders after years of fiscal irresponsibility and a housing market crash. Fast-forward to 2018 and Stockton’s 27-year-old mayor is leading the charge to spotlight his city as a pioneer for innovation amidst a troubled recent past. (Business Insider) Environment Aquaculture Impacts Sustainable fisheries make good sense for jobs, nutrition, and climate change resilience, but financial aid to sustainable fisheries in developing world has declined by 30 percent, says a new study. Over the past five years, projects focused on climate-related issues in fisheries saw a 77 percent decline. (Science Daily) Public Health Addressing Opioid Abuse A new report by The Arizona Republic can help other locales grappling with the opioid crisis that has since caught the attention of federal lawmakers and the White House. The study found Mohave County had 127.5 opioid prescriptions per 100 residents in 2016, citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Overall, the same CDC data show Arizona’s statewide rate is 70.2 opioid prescriptions per 100 people and over 4 points above the U.S. average of 66.5 per 100 people. (Associated Press) Public Health Cloning Monkeys Twenty years after Dolly the Sheep was cloned in Scotland, Chinese scientists have successfully cloned two monkeys using the same technique after 79 failed attempts. Critics raise ethical concerns as scientists take steps closer to human cloning. In this case and in the future, monkey clones can be useful for studying human diseases with a genetic basis, such as metabolic and immune disorders, as well as some cancers. (BBC) Aging and Retirement Plan Sponsor Costs Rising Some fees for retirement plan sponsors will increase for the 2018 tax year. No one likes to correct a mistake – including the IRS. The IRS has restructured how it implements fees charged for retirement plan sponsors when using the Voluntary Correction Program (VCP). Although the tier structure has been simplified, the associated fees can be more costly. Loan, minimum-distribution, and plan-amendment failures are now more expensive to correct under the new rules. (SHRM) Workplace A Better Deal for Public Employees Private-sector compensation is rising. About 31 percent of large and midsize U.S. employers already implemented at least one change to their employee benefit programs as of Jan. 25, says Willis Towers Watson Survey on the Impact of Tax Reform. Another 19 percent acted on employee compensation adjustments in a broad sense, and even more are discussing their options in response to the lower corporate tax rate. (SHRM) |
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Cobalt Community Research is a national 501c3 nonprofit, non-partisan coalition that helps local governments, schools and membership organizations affordably engage communities through high-quality surveys, dynamic population segmentation, focus groups and work groups that use instant audience feedback technology. Cobalt combines big data with local insights to help you thrive as changes emerge in the economic, demographic and social landscape. Explore how we can help you by calling 877.888.0209, or by emailing [email protected].
Cobalt Community Research is a national 501c3 nonprofit, non-partisan coalition that helps local governments, schools and membership organizations affordably engage communities through high-quality surveys, dynamic population segmentation, focus groups and work groups that use instant audience feedback technology. Cobalt combines big data with local insights to help you thrive as changes emerge in the economic, demographic and social landscape. Explore how we can help you by calling 877.888.0209, or by emailing [email protected].