Retail pharmacy sector adapts to workforce shortage  

Pharmacies have not been immune to the workforce shortages sweeping the nation.

As large chains adapt by reducing hours of operation, their current workers remain overwhelmed by demand and some transfer to lower-pressure settings such as hospital pharmacies.

Large pharmacies also lose customers who grow frustrated with long wait times, and several small, independent locations in southwestern Pennsylvania have reported new customer growth as a result.

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Local college combats food security   

One in three students at colleges across the Commonwealth struggle to access healthy food options.

That’s why the Pennsylvania Hunger-Free Campus Initiative has granted $40,000 to East Stroudsburg University.

This initiative is designed to expand across campuses to support students facing food insecurity. 

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Protections for LGBTQ+ people advance in the state House  

Legislation to recognize sexual orientation and gender expression as protected classes was introduced 22 years ago.

It has finally gained committee approval and will move to the House floor for vote.

Three counties and 70 municipalities in Pennsylvania already have ordinances that bar discrimination against LGBTQ+ people.

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Community college data highlights value of online learning    

Fifteen percent of community college students in California participated in online learning prior to the pandemic, and that share has since risen to 65 percent.

Administrators have learned that remote education opportunities improve accessibility for working families and others who cannot meet the demands of traditional schedules.

Many of these leaders must strike the balance between meeting the needs of students best suited for on-campus engagement and ensuring that faculty are sufficiently trained in effective online instruction. 

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LA school helps Black Muslim children avoid the prison pipeline

Research shows that harsh legislation and zero-tolerance school policies disproportionally and negatively affect people of color.

The Islah Academy in southern Los Angeles uses principles of restorative justice to minimize the likelihood of Black Muslim children – and boys in particular – funneled into the prison system.

The school is associated with a community center that provides a food pantry, family counseling, and transitional housing. 

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Minneapolis community center shifts toward climate resiliency    

The Sabathani Community Center in south Minneapolis has served many functions throughout its century-long life, though it has done so with zero energy efficiency.

Utility bills reach approximately $27,000 each winter month and the annual boiler maintenance bill is about $20,000.

It is now saving money and reducing its carbon footprint by going green, starting with $9 million from the Minneapolis Resilience project.

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