Welcome to the Week in Brief Podcast, a weekly 10-minute review of some of the biggest headlines in licensure, regulation, and digital government.

Every week, join Ascend Editor-in-Chief Paul Leavoy and Sarah Rivin, Government Affairs Director at Thentia, as they provide a quick summary of the week’s leading stories, which you can explore in more depth by checking out our Week in Brief series, published every Monday, and by signing up for the Week in Brief newsletter. Filling in for Paul this week is Jordan Milian, a writer for Ascend Magazine.

This week, Sarah and Jordan discuss:

• Recommendations from Virginia’s Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to address the state’s ongoing teacher shortage.
• A consultation from the U.K.’s Architects Registration Board (ARB) that suggests doing away with some of the educational requirements currently in place for architect licensure in the country.
• Efforts from Alabama State Sen. Chris Elliott to move forward with legislation to consolidate regulatory bodies after the failure of a 2023 reform bill.

To listen to the Week in Brief Podcast on your favorite podcast platform, find it on Spotify, Google Podcasts, or Apple Podcasts.