UTC is top nursing school in Tennessee
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga School of Nursing has been selected as the best nursing program in Tennessee by Nurse.org, an online publishing source that supports nurses.
In its summary of the UTC program, Nurse.org said nursing students who choose UTC "get to enjoy an urban campus and the benefits of a large school." Available programs include a traditional BSN, an online RN-BSN, an accelerated BSN and five concentrations in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program.
Upon completion of the bachelor's program in nursing, graduates are eligible to take the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensure exam (NCLEX) to become a registered nurse. In 2022, UTC School of Nursing students had a first-time pass rate of 93%. The national average was 82%.
"Being ranked No. 1 in the state is a very nice honor, especially when you look at who else was on the list," said Dr. Chris Smith, director of the UTC School of Nursing and UTC's chief health affairs officer. "Rankings are important because it means we are being looked at by people across the community, state and country."
Taco Bell awards 12 local scholarships
The Taco Bell franchisee Tacala Companies has awarded $163,500 in scholarships for the 2023-2024 school year in the six states where it operates.
Sixty-two eligible team members won scholarships ranging from $1,500 for two-year colleges and $3,000 for four-year colleges. The 12 scholarship winners from Taco Bell in Chattanooga include $3,000 scholarships to Ashton Lankford, Maranda Padavana Kayla King, Lucas Needham, Kennedie Casteel, Gavin Slaven, Dezire Willoz and Katrina Rivera. Taco Bell awarded $1,500 scholarships to Jordan Lewis, Isaiah Batts, Harley Truelove and John Carmley.
Korean EV supplier adds Georgia plant
A South Korean company will open an $18 million plant in Georgia to build heaters for electric vehicles.
Woory Industrial Co., based in Yongin, South Korea, said Wednesday that it would open the plant in Dublin, Georgia, in November, hiring 130 people.
The company says it will make electric heaters and control units for electric and internal combustion automakers.
It's Woory's first U.S. manufacturing location. The company has existing factories in South Korea, China, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Slovakia and Mexico.
Woory says it has been developing electric heaters over the last 10 years with hopes of becoming a leader in the market. Heaters are needed in cold weather not only to keep passengers warm, but to keep electric batteries warm for better performance.
Woory is the ninth supplier to locate in the region after Hyundai said in 2022 that it would build a $5.5 billion plant to assemble electric vehicles and batteries in Ellabell, Georgia. The site could grow to 8,100 employees and is slated to begin producing vehicles in 2025.
LA Times to trim 10% of newsroom
The Los Angeles Times is cutting more than 10% of its newsroom jobs, its executive editor, Kevin Merida, said Wednesday.
In an email to staff, Merida said the company was restructuring and would eliminate 74 roles as a result. A spokesperson for the news organization, Hillary Manning, said about 500 people would remain.
"The restructuring stems from the same persistent economic headwinds facing news media across the country," Merida said in the email.
Other media organizations that have also made cuts in recent months include CNN, Gannett, The Washington Post and NPR.
China exports fall 7.5% from year ago
China's exports fell 7.5% from a year earlier in May and imports were down 4.5%, adding to signs an economic recovery is slowing.
Customs data show exports slid to $283.5 billion, reversing from April's unexpectedly strong 8.5% growth. Imports fell to $217.7 billion, moderating from the previous month's 7.9% contraction.
Trade weakness adds to signs of a slowing of China's rebound following the lifting in December of anti-virus controls that disrupted travel and commerce. Retail spending is lower than expected as consumers worry about the economic outlook and possible job losses.
OECD predicts slow growth in economy
The global economy is bouncing back from an an energy price spike fed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But growth will stay below average this year and next. And trouble could emerge as central banks trying to fight inflation push interest rates higher and make borrowing for house purchases and business expansion more costly.
That is the outlook Wednesday from the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The OECD foresees growth of 2.7% this year and 2.9% next year — below the average pace before the pandemic.
London airport guards strike in busy season
Security guards at London's Heathrow Airport will escalate their strike action over pay into the busy summer months.
The Unite union said Wednesday that more than 2,000 of its members will walk out for 31 days from June 24 through to Aug. 27. It's a move that could wreak havoc for the millions of people going through Heathrow during the summer travel season.
Security guards have already been striking in recent months including during the Easter break and the coronation of King Charles III.
— Compiled by Dave Flessner