CCC 28-4_LR

NEWS & NOTES

n Maternal mortality rates in the United States have increased substantially over recent decades, more than doubling since the early 1980s. Among high-income nations, the U.S. has one of the highest rates of maternal deaths, with research indicating that a large majority of these deaths— approximately 84%—may be preventable. 16 n A recent RAND Corporation study found that student use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools for completing homework increased significantly, rising from 48% to 62% within a sev en-month period. Despite this growing adoption, many students expressed concerns about the im pact of AI on their learning, with 67% reporting that they believe the technology may be reducing their ability to think critically. 17 n According to the Urban Institute, households with children are more likely to experience finan cial insecurity than households without children. The study found that 56% of families with chil dren fall below the organization’s economic security threshold, compared with 44% of house holds without children. Financial challenges are especially pro nounced among single-parent families, with nearly 90% lacking sufficient income to meet the security standard. In contrast, about 66% of two-parent house holds with three or more children fall below that threshold. 18 n White students now represent less than half of all students enrolled in U.S. educational programs, accounting for approx imately 47% of those attending school from nursery through graduate-level studies. 19 n A majority of U.S. adults (63%) say they would prefer to remain in their current state of resi dence, while 28% indicate that they would choose to relocate to another state if they had the op portunity. 20 ;

10 Manzhos, M. (2026, April 25). What a Pew report said about people leaving, joining reli gions. Deseret News. https://www.deseret.com/ faith/2026/04/25/faith-catholicism-protestant ism-people-leaving-joining-religion/. 11 Earls, A. (2026, May 19). Spiritual matters missing from many churchgoers’ conversations. Lifeway Research. https://research.lifeway. com/2026/05/19/spiritual-matters-miss ing-from-many-churchgoers-conversations/. 12 Earls, A. (2026, April 23). 9 discourag ing trends for global Christianity in 2026 . ing-trends-for-global-christianity-in-2026/. 13 Davis, H. (2026, June 2). Bible translation hits 800th language landmark. Decision Magazine . https://billygraham.org/decision-magazine/ articles/bible-translation-hits-landmark-800th language-mark. 14 Steigerwald, D. (2024, July 24). Roughly 43 million Americans hold a cumulative 1.6T in federal student debt. 1440. https://join1440. com/t/student-debt. 15 Galofaro, C., & Ho, S. (2026, April 28). Adopt ed and locked away: Kids promised ‘forever homes’ instead confined in for-profit institu tions. AP News . https://apnews.com/article/ adopted-children-boarding-schools-treat ment-investigation-e5d8dab2e4db1f2f4c5abb faf0d97c52. 16 Allen, M. (2026, March 19). Olivia Walton: Fixing maternal death crisis. Axios AM. https:// www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-am 6add0b81-ed5c-486a-8f56-223f84993e68.html. 17 Maginnis, R. (2026, March 23). When students ask the machine. The Washington Stand . https://washingtonstand.com/article/-when students-ask-the-machine. 18 Schladen, M. (2026, March 20). Nearly half of Ohioans don’t make enough to be eco nomically secure, report says. Ohio Capital Journal. https://thevwindependent.com/ news/2026/03/21/more-ohioans-struggling-fi nancially/. 19 Allen, M. (2026, June 13). White student pop ulation shrinks . Axios AM. https://www.axios. com/newsletters/axios-am-66b17186-c534 4a0a-9fe2-5c7028fa8ac4.html. 20 Rasmussen Reports. (2026, June 3). No place like home? 63% want to stay put. https://www. rasmussenreports.com/public_content/life style/general_lifestyle/june_2026/no_place_ like_home_63_want_to_stay_put. Lifeway Research. https://research. lifeway.com/2026/04/23/9-discourag

Compiled and edited by Gary Foster, President of Gary D. Foster Consulting

COMMENTS & QUESTIONS? Phone: 419-238-4082 Email: GaryFoster733@gmail.com Web: GaryDFoster.com

Endnotes 1 Pandey, E., VandeHei, J., & Allen, M. (2026, June 11). Axios Finish Line: 1 big thing: Perks of sports fandom. Axios. https://www.axios.com/ newsletters/axios-finish-line-b32642d0-65d3 11f1-aad2-6108917b2d12.html. 2 Crary, D. (2026, May 4). Does frequent wor ship lead to better mental health? Often, but not always, experts say. AP News . https://ap news.com/article/religion-mental-health-cath olic-mormon-humanist-27bb5b476a4d 4235f327a91277b154d7. 3 Hart, D. (2026, June 4). 40% of all babies born in U.S. last year were to unmarried mothers, data shows. The Washington Stand . https://washingtonstand.com/article/-40 of-all-babies-born-in-us-last-year-were-to unmarried-mothers-data-shows. 4 Peck, E. (2026, May 15). College-educated fa thers are stepping it up at home. Axios. https:// www.axios.com/2026/05/15/fathers-house work-child-care. 5 Lotz, A. (2026, May 17). Today’s teens are a more sober, less social generation . Axios. https:// www.axios.com/2026/05/17/teens-generation- z-drinking-less. 6 Allen, M. (2026, May 28). Charted: New moral low . Axios AM. https://www.axios.com/news letters/axios-am-b2af5b9b-1438-46ef-9307 8e1d4b3038f2.html. 7 Helping children laugh can make their brains more resilient and learning easier. Good News Network. (2026, May 25). https://www.good newsnetwork.org/making-children-laugh-can help-make-their-brains-more-resilient/. 8 Lotz, A. (2026, June 17). Mom and dad are both breadwinners in most families for first time . Axios. https://www.axios.com/2026/06/17/par ents-families-both-work-full-time-analysis. 9 Postell, M. (2022, April 26). Stress tops mental challenges pastors face. Lifeway Research. https://research.lifeway.com/2022/04/26/ stress-tops-mental-challenges-pastors-face/.

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