Google plans to invest about $9.5 billion in U.S. offices and data centers this year, up from $7 billion in 2021. The investment will create at least 12,000 new full-time jobs and reinforces the search-engine giant’s confidence in having workers return to the office. A recent poll found that 52% of respondents are thinking of switching to a full-time remote or hybrid job this year. The pandemic prompted many workers to place more desire in flexibility and compensation rather than connecting with co-workers.

A recent shooting in a Brooklyn subway car has revived conversations about public safety and threatens the “return to normal” messaging being promoted by officials. New York Mayor Eric Adams said he will continue riding the subway to set an example and promised to increase police presence on trains. Public transit ridership in major cities is seeing a steady increase as more people return to in-person work – New Jersey’s average transit ridership increased to about 80% as of this week.

Lawmakers are facing increased pressure amid high inflation to cancel student loan debt. While some are concerned canceling some of the estimated $1.6 trillion student loan debt would only add to inflation, Democrats are leery to bash the idea publicly and upset the party’s base. President Joe Biden recently extended the pandemic pause on payments through the end of August but stopped short of forgiving debtors. The Education Department said the pause will allow more than seven million borrowers with defaulted federal loans to get the default removed from their credit report.

Coronavirus cases are on the rise in the U.S., up 14% nationwide from two weeks ago. Philadelphia brought back its indoor mask mandate this week, becoming one of the only U.S. cities to have such a mandate. Still, less than one in 10 Americans now describe COVID-19 as a crisis, with the majority calling it a manageable problem or no problem at all. Experts are calling for businesses to implement long-term plans to deal with waves of sick workers as COVID-19 cases fluctuate.

Major American companies in every industry pledged in recent years to change hiring habits by opening the door to higher-wage jobs for people without four-year college degrees, and data shows a gradual shift but highlights the challenge of changing entrenched hiring practices. Nearly four-in-ten Americans ages 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree, a share that has grown over the last decade.

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