Editor’s Note: Our usual bi-weekly schedule was adjusted due to the US Labor Day holiday. This edition covers three weeks of news, and as a result, has been narrowed down to the most impactful headlines for brevity.

Wed, Sept 1 | ​​Walmart Will Add 20,000 Workers to Supply-Chain Operations This Year

Ahead of the holidays, Walmart is pushing to add 20,000 permanent supply-chain operations hires to its workforce, signaling the growing role of delivery and distribution in retail competition. (Continue reading)

Wed, Sept 1 | U.S. Manufacturing Growth Accelerated Slightly in August

Amid ongoing shortages of materials and labor, the manufacturing industry saw acceleration in August despite ongoing supply chain challenges. (Continue reading)

Learn more: How Origami Risk serves the manufacturing industry

Fri, Sept 10 | Healthcare Deserts: 80% of U.S. Lacks Adequate Access to Healthcare

According to a report by GoodRX Research, over 80% of the United States lacks “adequate healthcare infrastructure in some shape or form.” (Continue reading)

Wed, Sept 15 | Microsoft is going password-free for consumer accounts

Microsoft has announced that it is “officially retiring written passwords for personal accounts,” with corporate accounts having been eligible for password-free sign-on since March of this year. (Continue reading)

Wed, Sept 15 | Patients and doctors who embraced telehealth during the pandemic fear it will become harder to access

With federal and state regulators having issued scores of waivers to telehealth access and coverage rules at the beginning of the pandemic, experts are beginning to question whether the rules will tighten once the “public health emergency is over.” (Continue reading)

Thu, Sept 16 | Britain's Co-op warns supply chain disruption to hit full year profit

The British supermarket group, Co-operative Group, reported a first half loss noting the country’s supply chain disruption would “put pressure on full year profits.” (Continue reading)

Read next: What you need to know about the global supply chain and operational resilience

Fri, Sept 17 | Comp pays more than group health on similar medical services

When compared to group health, workers’ compensation insurers pay more for medical services for comparable injuries according to a new report from the National Council on Compensation Insurance. (Continue reading)

Fri, Sept 17 | Average med-legal payment up 67% in California

Under the new fee schedule that was approved earlier this year, the California Workers’ Compensation Institute reported that average payments for all comprehensive medical-legal evaluations rose 67%. (Continue reading)

Cybersecurity News 

• Wed, Sept 1 | SEC Sanctions Eight Firms Over Deficient Cybersecurity Procedures
• Fri, Sept 3 | Amid a surge in ransomware attacks, cities are taking some of the biggest hits 
• Wed, Sept 8 | The Cybersecurity 202: Ransomware threats barrel back after a slow Labor Day
• Thu, Sept 16 | Fidelity Ramps Up Cybersecurity Tools for Advisors

Coronavirus News 

• LIVE | COVID-19 Delta Variant Updates from The Washington Post
• Sun, Aug 29 | National Safety Council calls on all employers to require employee COVID-19 vaccinations

Learn more: How to track and manage employee COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters

• Wed, Sept 1 | Perspectives: Pandemic reshapes workers comp line
• Thu, Sept 2 | What Can Employers Do if Workers Avoid Vaccines?
• Thu, Sept 2 | Delta Variant Has Workers Worrying About Returning to Office

Read next: 6 ways healthcare systems can improve patient safety

• Sun, Sept 5 | Each COVID-19 surge poses a risk for healthcare workers: PTSD
• Thu, Sept 9 | Biden announces sweeping new vaccine mandates for businesses, federal workers

Watch next: How to remain compliant with new vaccine and testing mandates

• Sun, Sept 12 | What to Expect from OSHA on COVID-19 Vaccine and Testing Rules
• Wed, Sept 15 | The Impact the Unvaccinated Are Having on Healthcare Spending
• Sun, Sept 18 | As covid-19 patients fill hospitals, health-care workers fight fear and exhaustion: ‘Here we go again’
• Sat, Sept 18 | The days of full covid coverage are over. Insurers are restoring deductibles and co-pays, leaving patients with big bills.

Climate & Environment News

• Mon, Aug 30 | Major damage, flooding in Louisiana after Ida landfall

Read next: How to prepare for rising threats from natural disasters

• Thu, Sept 2 | New York City faces the first ‘flash flood emergency’ in its history.
• Fri, Sept 3 | Why Ida Hit The Northeast So Hard, 1,000 Miles Away From Its Landfall
• Sun, Sept 5 | Energy company: Hurricane Ida restoration could take weeks

Read next: What lessons can risk managers learn from natural disasters?

• Mon, Sept 6 | Drought hit Washington hard and fast. Here’s what it has meant for farmers, wildfires
• Thu, Sept 9 | California OKs new spending on drought, wildfire prevention
• Fri, Sept 10 | Wildfire raging in Spain forces more than 900 to flee, a firefighter dies
• Mon, Sept 13 | Nicholas is now a hurricane that threatens the Texas coast with heavy rain and storm surges
• Thu, Sept 16 | Threat of volcanic eruption puts Spanish island on alert