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Legal challenges to Biden's student loan plans have borrowers anxious ahead of payment restart

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:57 GMT

(The Hill) - The Biden administration has found more of its student loan policies entangled in legal battles, raising anxiety for borrowers as repayments are set to start in the fall.The most recent challenges threaten student loan forgiveness for 800,000 borrowers and changes to the borrower defense student debt relief program that would make it easier for those defrauded by their colleges to receive forgiveness.Borrowers are having to navigate what the legal developments mean for their loans while also losing faith in receiving more help from the administration before they have to begin repaying their debts in October. “I believe even though the specificities of the various lawsuits that are being challenged [...] I think the question that is on a lot of people's minds, specifically the 40 million borrowers, even if it doesn't directly affect them, is when does the line end? When do the challenges end?” said Dorien Rogers, president of the Maryland Youth & College Divisio...

Officials, scientists warn that after Maui flames flicker out, toxic particles will remain

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:57 GMT

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — When flames swept through western Maui, engulfing the town of Lahaina, residents saw toxic fumes spewing into the air as burning homes, pipes and cars combusted, transforming rubber, metal and plastic into poisonous, particulate matter-filled smoke.Retired mailman and Vietnam veteran Thomas Leonard heard a boom as a propane tank at a nearby home exploded, leaving a cloud that looked like “a gigantic mushroom” in its wake. Fatalities from Hawaii fires climb to 96, Gov. says it will ‘continue to rise’ Thirty-seven year old Mike Cicchino, who grew up on Maui, said he could tell how close the flames were based on how far away cars sounded as their gas tanks erupted. He and his family sought refuge in the ocean across a knee-high sea wall and as he helped others onto the rocks, his rib cage ached, his eyes were nearly swollen shut and he vomited.“It was like a war,” Cicchino said.Makalea Ahhee, left, tears up while her husband, JP Mayoga, right, a chef ...

Maui fire death toll rises to 96 with estimated loss of $5.6 billion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:57 GMT

HONOLULU (NEXSTAR) - The Maui Police Department updated the number of confirmed deaths to 96 around 9 p.m. Sunday, Maui County said in a statement.In a video update released earlier on Sunday, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said more than 2,700 structures were destroyed in Lahaina and “an estimated value of $5.6 billion has gone away.” Can Lahaina’s famed banyan tree really survive? Green said the response has been “comprehensive” in the past several days: “We are bringing the full force of government to try to do all we can to alleviate suffering.”FEMA is overseeing the federal response in Hawaii with 416 personnel including FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell.“We’ve had a lot of time to discuss how we will ultimately rebuild Lahaina and support Maui,” Green said.Green said President Joe Biden has “authorized the full force of the federal government in support of us.” $5.52 billion estimated cost to rebuild Lahaina after fire A federal urban search and rescue team will be accompani...

What's changed with Austin ISD ahead of new school year?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- School is back in session for Austin Independent School District so KXAN sat down with AISD Interim Superintendent Matias Segura to talk about the upcoming year. Segura was named the interim superintendent in December 2022 after the previous interim Anthony Mays left the district for a permanent role in Houston. Segura is a product of AISD schools. NEXT: Set for School Segura gave KXAN's Nabil Remadna several updates on the district, including pay increases and teacher retention. Austin ISD increased its starting salary by 7%.This interview has been edited for clarity.Q&A with Austin ISD interim superintendentRemadna: "Recently [Austin ISD] increased salaries [and] compensation, but the state did not give the funding to the district that you were looking for, how did that impact AISD?"Segura: "It is always a timing issue for us, you know our fiscal year ends June 30, so we have to adopt a budget before then. Our board is the body that does that, so we spend a ...

Manor ISD starts school with 89 international teachers helping staff classrooms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:57 GMT

MANOR, Texas (KXAN) -- Manor ISD kicks off the school year with a superintendent in his first full academic year on the job, and 89 teachers working on visas to help the district meet its staffing needs. The district starts the year having scored a "C" during its 2022 state assessment. While school progress stood out as an area of achievement, the score for STAAR Performance struggled. NEXT: Set for School Superintendent Dr. Robert Sormani said the district is "ground zero" in the battle with charter schools over students as Manor ISD finished last school year with 9,255 students enrolled, which is less than had been projected.Sormani talked with KXAN about a variety of back-to-school issues ranging from staffing to safety to academic achievement ahead of the next school year.Q&A with Manor ISD superintendentManor ISD Superintendent Dr. Robert Sormani talks with KXAN's Tom Miller. (Frank Martinez/KXAN)Tom Miller: This is going to be your first full school year with Manor ISD. ...

98.3 TRY Social Dilemma: Are You Responsible for Plants That Die While You're Caring For Them?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:57 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Today's 98.3 TRY Social Dilemma came from Brianne, and it's about watching a friend's plants. Here's her email. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Hi Jaime. I need help and I think this is a good dilemma. So, my friend and her family were going away for a 10-day vacation, and they asked me to water all of their plants outside in their yard. They have a beautiful yard with a lot of plants they buy every summer. I said no problem because I could use their pool if I watered the plants. Win Win. Long story short I missed a couple of days watering because I was too tired when I got home from work. A few of the plants don’t look great and I’m not sure water is going to save them. Do you think I need to replace those plants? Am I responsible to pay for them? I hope not because I don't think they're cheap. Help me out. Thanks. BrianneThis is kind of tough, because if Brianne did what she was supposed to do and wat...

VSP: Vermonter resisted arrested after police chase

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:57 GMT

SHAFTSBURY, Vt. (NEWS10) -- A Bennington, Vermont man was arrested on Sunday after a police chase ensued in Shaftsbury, Vermont. Donald Hurley, 31, faces several charges. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! On Sunday, around 3:25 p.m., Vermont State Police were notified of a car driving erratically on Vermont Route 7A. Once police found the vehicle, they say the driver committed several lane violations and attempted to pull him over.Police turned on their emergency blue lights, but say the car didn't stop and continued at a high rate of speed. Troopers then turned on their sirens, but the driver still did not stop. After a while, police stopped trying to pull the driver over. Schenectady County extends State of Emergency Later, around 3:42 p.m., troopers received information the same car had driven to a property in Arlington, Vermont, and then took off. Police say through an investigation, the driver was identified as Donald Hur...

GasBuddy: Avg. Albany gas prices rise 2.3 cents in last week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:57 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Average gasoline prices in Albany have risen 2.3 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.96/g Monday, according to GasBuddy's survey of 546 stations in Albany. Prices in Albany are 26.5 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 36.6 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has risen 12.3 cents in the last week and stands at $4.270 per gallon. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Albany was priced at $3.64/g Sunday while the most expensive was $4.14/g, a difference of 50.0 cents per gallon. The lowest price in the state Monday was $3.16/g while the highest was $4.90/g, a difference of $1.74/g.The national average price of gasoline has risen 2.5 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.82/g Monday. The national average is up 29.1 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 9.6 cents per gal...

Ask Amy: Mom worries about European exclusion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:57 GMT

Dear Amy: My son graduated from high school recently and a few weeks later discovered, via social media, that his six best high school friends went on a graduation trip to Europe without him.They made sure he wouldn’t know about this trip ahead of time and obviously didn’t invite him.It’s not clear to either of us why they did this.He reached out to a couple of them via text, and didn’t really get any explanation.Now that they’re back, he still hasn’t asked them about it.I can’t help but wonder, where were the parents in all of this? Why didn’t any of them tell their kids that this is no way to treat a friend?Should I say something to the other moms (I’m not close with any of them), or do I let my son work it out with these “friends”?He was devastated, and I feel like this is eating him up inside.I’m afraid it’s the sort of rejection or betrayal that you don’t get over that easily.He’s leaving ...

International Youth Day: EU announces composition of Youth Advisory Council for International Partnerships 2023-2025

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:57 GMT

On the eve of International Youth Day on 12 August, the European Commission announced the names of the 25 young people selected to be members of the EU Youth Advisory Council for International Partnerships 2023-2025. They will advise the Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, and the Directorate-General for International Partnerships on youth participation and empowerment in EU external action. This Youth Advisory Council for International Partnerships is constituted for the second time, after the end of the mandate of the first team in July. International Partnerships Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen, said: “In many partner countries, more than half of the population are young people. Young people must have a say in the decisions that shape their future. Youth is my priority and today, in line with the EU Youth Action Plan, I am delighted to announce the names of the remarkable people who will make up the second Youth Advisory Council. This diverse group of 25 ...