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☆ Inside Impeachment’s Rise as a Weapon of Partisan Warfare
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Peter Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

But Mr. Mayorkas is not as lonely as all that. Republicans have also filed articles of impeachment against his boss, President Biden, as well as Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Christopher A. Wray, the F.B.I. director, while threatening them against Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. Indeed, threats of impeachment have become a favorite pastime for Republicans following the lead of former President Donald J. Trump, who has pressed his allies for payback for his own two impeachments while in office. The chances of Mr. Mayorkas, much less Mr. Biden, ever being convicted in the Senate, absent some shocking revelation, seem to be just about zero, and the others appear in no serious danger even of being formally accused by the House.

Persons: impeaches Alejandro, Mayorkas, President Biden, Antony J, Lloyd J, Austin III, General Merrick B, Garland, Christopher A, Wray, Pete Buttigieg, Miguel Cardona, Donald J, Trump, Biden Organizations: Republicans, Transportation

☆ Pressure is building on Biden to consider more student-loan borrowers for debt relief
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The pressure keeps building on President Joe Biden's Education Department to include as many student-loan borrowers as possible in its second debt relief plan. After the Supreme Court struck down Biden's first attempt at broad debt cancellation, the Education Department announced it would be pursuing a new route for relief using the Higher Education Act of 1965. However, it did not include a category for borrowers with financial hardship, and some of the negotiators are requesting an additional session to discuss that topic. "As we repeatedly stated in the negotiations, we think that regulations that allow the Secretary to provide debt relief based on borrowers' financial hardship are a critical part of any debt cancellation agenda," they wrote. The Education Department has not yet commented on whether it will add an additional session.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Miguel Cardona, Biden's Organizations: Service, Joe Biden's Education Department, Business, Education Department, Higher, The Education Department, Democratic, Department, Federal

☆ Biden administration looks to forgive student debt of borrowers in hardship
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to United Auto Workers members at the UAW's Community Action Program legislative conference in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 24, 2024. The Biden administration announced on Wednesday that it will try to deliver student loan forgiveness to borrowers experiencing financial hardship. After the Supreme Court struck down President Joe Biden's executive order to cancel up to $20,000 in student debt for tens of millions of Americans, his administration has searched for ways to cancel the debt using existing legal authority. In what has become known as Biden's Plan B for student loan forgiveness, the president has turned to the rulemaking process. The Biden administration has been under pressure, however, to expand its aid to borrowers in financial hardship, too.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Joe Biden's, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Education Miguel Cardona, Jan Organizations: United Auto Workers, Washington , D.C, Department, Education, U.S . Department Locations: Washington ,

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is trying to enlist school leaders to help spread the word about the importance of safely storing firearms to protect children. Also participating will be Stefanie Feldman, who runs the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. "We know safe storage of firearms can save lives, especially by reducing suicide by firearms and school shootings," Feldman told reporters. Guns are the leading cause of death for American children, and most guns used in school shootings are taken from the shooter’s home. There's no federal law requiring gun owners to lock up their firearms, although the White House has encouraged such rules to be implemented at the state level.

Persons: Jill Biden, Miguel Cardona, Stefanie Feldman, Feldman, “, ” Feldman Organizations: WASHINGTON, Education, White, Justice Department, Education Department Locations: Congress

☆ It's not too late for more student-loan borrowers to get relief in Biden's second try at debt cancellation, 38 Democratic lawmakers say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThere's still time for President Joe Biden's Education Department to consider more student-loan borrowers for its second debt relief plan, a group of Democrats said. On Thursday, 38 Democratic lawmakers — including Sens. The key issue concerns the groups of borrowers the Education Department proposed to include in its relief. The Education Department has not yet indicated whether it will add a fourth session. Advertisement"The Department's priority is to support students and borrowers, and is moving as quickly as possible to provide student debt relief to as many borrowers as possible, including through the regulatory process," the spokesperson said.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, Elizabeth Warren, Chuck Schumer, Bernie Sanders —, Secretary Miguel Cardona, Biden's, didn't, Biden Organizations: Service, Joe Biden's Education Department, Business, Democratic, —, Secretary, Education Department, Higher, Department, Biden Administration Locations: Sens

☆ Some student-loan borrowers could get extra money from their school under a new Education Department proposal
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewPresident Joe Biden's Education Department has kicked off another round of negotiations to craft new rules for higher education — and it could get some student-loan borrowers extra cash. One of the department's proposals concerns how schools manage students' meal plans. AdvertisementThe department will continue negotiations on these regulations in February and March sessions with stakeholders, with the opportunity for public comment. Along with the cash management proposals, the department is also in the regulatory process of crafting its second attempt at student-debt relief for borrowers. "Failing to finalize a proposal to provide relief for borrowers experiencing hardship would result in millions of borrowers — including most recent graduates, many low-income borrowers, borrowers of color, and borrowers with disabilities — being left out of the necessary debt relief," nearly 70 advocacy groups sent to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona last week.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, They're, Biden's, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona Organizations: Service, Joe Biden's Education, Business, Education Department, Higher, Education Secretary

☆ All 4 major student-loan companies have now gotten punished for customer service issues as borrowers struggle with repayment — and it might not be the end
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewIt hasn't been easy for student-loan borrowers since payments restarted a few months ago — and for the companies that manage their debt. The Education Department is aware of those errors and highlighted them in an internal Federal Student Aid memo in November. AdvertisementIn the past fiscal year, Congress did not boost funding for Federal Student Aid, which oversees all student-loan operations. And in the current round of budget negotiations, House Republicans have proposed steep cuts for Federal Student Aid. One servicer, MOHELA, told Democratic lawmakers in response to queries on repayment preparation that "millions of borrowers resumed repayment simultaneously after a multi-year pause."

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, MOHELA, servicers, Miguel Cardona, that's, servicer, I'm, Harris, Cardona Organizations: Service, Business, Joe Biden's Education Department, Education Department, Department, Education, Federal, Aid, The Education, Federal Student Aid, House Republicans, Democratic, Biden, Harris Administration

The U.S. Department of Education has approved the cancellation of $4.9 billion in federal student loan debt for close to 74,000 borrowers, officials announced on Friday. The announcement – the latest in a series of cancellation efforts that span the last four years – brings the total amount of student loan debt relief under the Biden administration to $136.6 billion for more than 3.7 million borrowers. The additional $1.7 billion in debt relief announced on Friday is the result of fixes to the federal income-driven repayment plan. In the wake of the high court’s decision to strike down the loan cancellation plan, Education Department officials hatched a new strategy to provide large-scale student loan debt cancellation. “In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision on our student debt relief plan, we are continuing to pursue an alternative path to deliver student debt relief to as many borrowers as possible as quickly as possible,” Biden said in a statement.

Persons: –, Biden, “ The, Harris, Miguel Cardona, ” Cardona, “, Joe Biden, Biden’s, ” Biden Organizations: U.S . Department of Education, “ The Biden, Harris Administration, Public, Valuable Education, Biden, Education Department

☆ Biden administration to forgive $4.9 billion in student debt for 73,600 borrowers
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Biden administration announced on Friday that it would forgive $4.9 billion in student debt for 73,600 borrowers. The relief is a result of the U.S. Department of Education's fixes to its income-driven repayment plans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. "The Biden-Harris Administration has worked relentlessly to fix our country's broken student loan system and address the needless hurdles and administrative inaccuracies that, in the past, kept borrowers from getting the student debt forgiveness they deserved," U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement. In addition, 43,900 borrowers who have worked in public service for a decade or more will receive $3.2 billion in loan cancellation, the U.S. Department of Education said. Borrowers in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program have also struggled to get the debt erasure they've been promised due to errors in their payment counts and other issues.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Harris, Education Miguel Cardona, servicers Organizations: Community Center, U.S . Department, Public, Biden, Harris Administration, Education, Finance, U.S . Department of Education Locations: Raleigh , North Carolina

☆ 74,000 student-loan borrowers are getting $5 billion debt wiped out in Biden's latest batch of repayment reforms
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The relief is going to public servants and those on income-driven repayment who made their qualifying payments. AdvertisementMore student-loan borrowers are on track to get debt relief following President Joe Biden's repayment reforms. On Friday, Biden announced that his administration approved another 74,000 borrowers for $5 billion in debt relief. In December, for example, the department approved another $5 billion in relief for 80,000 borrowers on PSLF and income-driven repayment plans. Advertisement"This level of debt relief is unparalleled, and we have no intention of slowing down," Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a December statement.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, Biden, servicers, Biden's, Miguel Cardona Organizations: Service, Public, Department, Education Department Locations: forbearance

☆ Some student loan borrowers will get their debt canceled early, with their balances wiped out next month
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Student debt forgiveness is coming faster than expected for some borrowers who have been chipping away at their loans. A key feature of President Joe Biden's new student-loan repayment plan is shortening the forgiveness timeline for some borrowers, particularly those with lower borrowing amounts. "I am proud that my administration is implementing one of the most impactful provisions of the SAVE plan nearly six months ahead of schedule," Biden said in a statement. "Starting next month, borrowers enrolled in SAVE who took out less than $12,000 in loans and have been in repayment for 10 years will get their remaining student debt cancelled immediately." He added: "We don't want to go back to the days when a million people defaulted on their student loans every year.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Biden, Education Miguel Cardona Organizations: SAVE, Education Department, Education

☆ Federal agency: Student loan company errors could 'pose serious risks' to borrowers, the economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-05 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Rohit Chopra, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, speaks during a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., Dec. 15, 2022. When student loan servicers make errors by cutting corners or sidestepping the law, it can "pose serious risks to individuals and the economy," said Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra. Borrowers experienced long phone hold times with their servicers, significant delays in the processing of their repayment applications, and inaccurate and untimely billing statements, the bureau found. The U.S. Department of Education announced Friday that it would withhold payments to three student loan servicers as part of its efforts to hold the companies accountable. "Today's actions make clear that the Biden-Harris Administration will not give student loan servicers a free pass for poor performance and missteps that jeopardize borrowers," Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement.

Persons: Rohit Chopra, servicers, Mark Kantrowitz, Harris, Education Miguel Cardona Organizations: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs Committee, Washington , D.C, Financial, U.S . Department of Education, Finance, Biden, Harris Administration, Education Locations: Washington ,, EdFinancial, Nelnet

The results of the Program for International Student Assessment – the first assessment to examine the academic progress of students in math, reading and science in dozens of countries since the outset of the pandemic – marked historic setbacks for children globally. Students hadn’t recorded a change of more than five points in either subject since the exam was first administered in 2000. The COVID-era setbacks spared none, affecting wealthy countries and poor countries and even those long recognized as academic powerhouses. The slumping scores among American students largely mirror results seen on national assessments in recent years. “At an extremely tough time in education, the United States moved up in the world rankings in reading, math, and science – all three categories PISA measures – while, unfortunately, many other countries saw declines.”

Persons: ”, Peggy Carr, hadn’t, Jordan, ” Carr, Miguel Cardona, Donald Trump, “, ” Cardona Organizations: Program, National Center for Education Statistics, U.S . Education Department, “, Organization for Economic Cooperation, Development, Education, Republican Party Locations: U.S, PISA, Albania, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Poland, Singapore, Japan, China, Estonia, Canada, Ireland, United States, –

Released Tuesday, it finds the average international math score fell by the equivalent of three-quarters of a year of learning. Reading scores fell by the equivalent of half a year. Reading scores fell by 10 points. A national study in the U.S. last year found math scores fell by more than ever, with reading scores dropping to 1992 levels. It was joined in the upper echelons by other East Asian countries including Japan and China.

Persons: ”, Peggy Carr, “, didn’t, Jordan, Miguel Cardona, Joe Biden’s Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Program, Organisation for Economic Co, OECD, Reading, National Center for Education Statistics, U.S . Education Department, Associated Press, Carnegie Corporation of New, AP Locations: United States, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, U.S, Belgium, Finland, Canada, France, Sweden, Brazil, Ireland, Singapore, Japan, China, Estonia, Albania, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Dominican Republic, Cambodia, Carnegie Corporation of New York

☆ 4 groups of borrowers may be eligible for student loan forgiveness under Biden's latest proposal
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | In Kamaronmcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Biden Administration is moving forward in its negotiated rulemaking process to try to forgive student debt for federal borrowers. The Supreme Court struck down President Joe Biden's initial plan to forgive up to $20,000 of student debt per borrower in June. On Monday, the administration released a draft regulation proposal outlining what its new forgiveness rules would look like. "This rulemaking process is about standing up for borrowers who've been failed by the country's broken student loan system and creating new regulations that will reduce the burden of student debt in this country." The negotiated rulemaking committee will meet later in December to discuss the proposal and aim to reach a consensus on the proposed changes.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Miguel Cardona, who've Organizations: Biden, Department, Education

☆ Former Harvard disinformation scholar says she was pushed out of her job after college faced pressure from Facebook
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Donie O'Sullivan | Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A nationally recognized online disinformation researcher has accused Harvard University of shutting the project she led to protect its relationship with mega-donor and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. The allegations, made by Dr. Joan Donovan, raise questions about the influence the tech giant might have over seemingly independent research. Beginning in 2018, Dr. Donovan worked for the Shorenstein Center at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and ran its Technology and Social Change Research Project, where she led studies of media manipulation campaigns. But last year Harvard informed Dr. Donovan it was shutting the project down, Donovan claims. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is the philanthropy run by Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, who both attended Harvard.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Joan Donovan, Donovan, Harvard University’s John F, Dr, Miguel Cardona, Chan, Chan Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg, Priscilla Chan, ” Libby Liu, Frances Haugen, “ We’ve, ” Liu Organizations: CNN, Harvard University, Meta, Shorenstein, Harvard University’s, Kennedy School of Government, Technology, Research, Harvard, US Education, University, Initiative, The Washington Post, Post, Big Energy, Big Pharma

☆ Student-loan borrowers are facing 'serious risks' to their credit scores following the 'chaotic' payment resumption, 4 Democratic lawmakers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Four Democrats recently wrote a letter that raised concerns about student-loan repayment challenges. They said they're worried servicer errors could hurt borrowers' credit scores. AdvertisementIt's been just over two months since federal student-loan payments resumed and millions of borrowers have already faced a range of difficulties with the transition. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Richard Blumenthal, and Chris Van Hollen sent a letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona expressing concerns about challenges student-loan borrowers have faced over the past few months. "For example, we are concerned that ED's credit reporting processes may expose borrowers' credit scores to unanticipated consequences," the letter said.

Persons: they're, —, It's, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Richard Blumenthal, Chris Van Hollen, Secretary Miguel Cardona, it's Organizations: Education Department, Service, Democratic, Secretary, Department, Democrats, Federal Student Aid, House Republicans Locations: Sens

☆ These student-loan borrowers could qualify for up to $20,000 in debt cancellation through Biden's second attempt at relief
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Education Department released new details on its second attempt at debt relief. On Monday, the Education Department released updated regulatory text for its proposal to cancel student debt using the Higher Education Act of 1965. Advertisement"Student loans are supposed to be a bridge to a better life, not a life sentence of endless debt," Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a statement. AdvertisementWhile this plan for relief is more narrow than Biden's first attempt, many borrowers experiencing different forms of hardship hope they'll qualify. "I have to pay for my wife's car, plus food, plus utilities, plus the mortgage, plus the car payment," one 63-year-old borrower previously told Business Insider.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, Biden's, Miguel Cardona, who've, There's Organizations: Education Department, Service, Higher, Public, Department

☆ Former US first lady Rosalynn Carter returned to Georgia hometown for burial
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Maria Cardona | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Members of an Armed Forces body bearer team moves the casket after the funeral service for former U.S. first lady Rosalynn Carter at Maranatha Baptist Church, in Plains, Georgia, U.S. November 29, 2023. Alex Brandon/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsPLAINS, Georgia, Nov 29 (Reuters) - A private funeral was held on Wednesday for Rosalynn Carter at a church in her hometown of Plains, Georgia, marking the end of three days of tributes celebrating the life and humanitarian work of the former U.S. first lady, who died at the age of 96. Uniformed officers from local police and sheriff's departments silently lined a street in the tiny rural birthplace of former President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn, his wife of 77 years. Residents of the town, adorned with murals of Jimmy Carter and other tributes to its most famous son, recalled Rosalynn as a humble neighbor who helped mow the lawns and organize the food bank at the Carters' church. PARTNER TO THE PRESIDENTOn Monday, Rosalynn Carter lay in repose at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta.

Persons: Rosalynn Carter, Alex Brandon, Jimmy Carter, Rosalynn, Bren Dubay, Dubay, Carter, Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Bill Clinton, Maria Alejandra Cardona, Jonathan Allen, Elijah Nouvelage, Richard Chang Organizations: Armed Forces, U.S, Maranatha Baptist Church, REUTERS Acquire, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, White, Humanity, Thomson Locations: Plains , Georgia, U.S, , Georgia, Plains, Atlanta, Guinea, West Africa, New York

☆ Was Peace Ever Possible?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Moderated Emily Bazelon | A Discussion Moderated Emily Bazelon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +45 min

This was known as the Oslo peace process, named for the city where the secret talks took place. Micha Bar-Am/Magnum Photos Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir of Israel during the the Middle East peace conference in Madrid, 1991. Margalit: All the Israeli leaders who negotiated for peace, starting with Rabin, were in a weak political position. Dajani: With the First Intifada, and then subsequently Madrid and Oslo, Palestinians suddenly see the possibility of agency. But what’s important to understand is that the notion of peace for Rabin, and for most Israelis, is that peace is a lack of violence from the other side.

Persons: Jordan, Israel, Yasir Arafat, Bernard Frye, Arafat, Larry Towell, Abbas, Micha, Yitzhak Shamir, Jerome Delay, Saddam, Hussein, George H.W, Bush, James A, Baker III, Baker, Shamir, Yitzhak Rabin, Rabin, Shimon Peres, —, Margalit, Saddam Hussein, Hosni Mubarak of, King Hussein of Jordan, Bill Clinton, Gary Hershon, Abu Alaa, “, ” Rabin, ” Arafat, ”, Ashrawi, Yehuda, Efraim, Susan Meiselas, Baruch Goldstein, Patrick Baz, Daoud Mizrahi, Gilles Peress, Goldstein, Matti Steinberg, Netanyahu, Bazelon, Clinton, Shikaki, Manal Jamal, didn’t, Dennis Ross, Omar, Camp David, Ehud Barak, Md, Ralph Alswang, Christopher Anderson, Motasm Amir, Barak didn’t, Barak, David, Dajani, Emily, Arafat —, Ross, Mary, Nobody, Arafat didn’t, Hosni Mubarak, Mubarak, El, there’s, There’s, Robert Malley, Hussein Agha, ” Barak, Sharon, It’s, Yarden Romann, Peter van Agtmael, Khan Younis, Yousef Masoud, Khan, Ahmad Hasaballah, Ziv Koren, they’re, Dan, Avishai, Omar Dajani, Taba, Dana El Kurd, Efraim Inbar, ‘ ‘ Rabin, ’ ’, Daniel Kurtzer, Avishai Margalit, George Kennan, Van, Khalil Shikaki, Limor Yehuda, Emily Bazelon, Nabil Ismail, Pascal, Said, Ulf Andersen, Getty, Menahem Kahana, Abdel, Shafi, Maggie Ohayon, Yigal Amir, Yoav Lemmer, Jack Guez, Olmert, Moshe Milner, Ami, Dani Cardona, Awad Awad, Obama, Ben Gershom Organizations: United Nations, West Bank, Associated, Palestine Liberation Organization, U.S, Soviet Union, Palestinian, Madrid didn’t, Bank, White, Agence France, Presse, Getty Images, Oslo Accord, White House, Reuters, Israel’s Labor Party government, Bazelon, Oslo Palestinian, Getty, West, Shin, Gross, . Security, Camp, Camp David Summit, Labor Party, NPR, American, New York Times, Polaris, Labor, United, McGeorge School of Law, University of the, Israel, Camp David, University of Richmond, Arab Center Washington, Jerusalem Institute for Strategy, Security, Shalem College, Bar, Ilan University, Sadat Center, Strategic Studies, Israel’s National Security, Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Institute for, Princeton, Israel Academy of Sciences, Humanities, Van Leer Jerusalem Institute, Palestinian Center, Policy, Research, Crown Center for Middle East Studies, Brandeis University, Gaza, Hebrew University, Haifa University, Human, The New York Times Magazine, Mount Locations: Israel, Jordan, Gaza, Egypt, Jerusalem, Zion, Munich, Tunisia, Oslo, American, Oslo Gaza, Palestine, Madrid, Kuwait, United States, Soviet, Lebanon, Syria, Jordanian, America, Washington, U.S, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, U.N, Independence, Palestinian, Sudan, Libya, Yemen, Iraq, Rafah, Hebron, Ibrahimi, West Bank, Judea, Samaria, Yehuda, Camp David, Jenin, Haram, Al Aqsa, Khan, Kfar Aza, Khan Younis, Ahmad, Old, Ireland, Bosnia, Tel Aviv, Iran, Athens, El, Camp, Israeli, Van Leer, Ramallah

☆ How a boomer just got $50,000 in student debt wiped out after making payments for 25 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

It's a result of an account adjustment for borrowers who made the required 20 or 25 years of payments. AdvertisementGeorge Tucker thought he would be resuming student-loan payments alongside millions of other borrowers this fall. Tucker, 63, owed just under $50,000 on his student loans when the more than three-year pause on federal payments ended in October, per documents reviewed by Insider. Although PSLF was intended to forgive student debt after ten years of qualifying payments, Tucker said paperwork challenges with the program threw him off track, and he was not anticipating debt relief. George Tucker got $50,000 in student debt wiped out.

Persons: George Tucker, It's, Tucker, —, Little, he's, PSLF, MOHELA, Harris, Joe Biden's, isn't, Miguel Cardona, servicers, Jason Harmon, Harmon couldn't Organizations: Service, Public, Harris Administration, Biden, Joe Biden's Education Department, Department, Education, Education Department, MOHELA

☆ A boomer on short-term disability isn't required to make student-loan payments right now. Her servicer took out $200 from her bank anyway.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Amy, 59, is not required to make any student loan payments while pursuing her teaching certificate. It comes as the Education Department is working to strengthen oversight over servicers. AdvertisementAdvertisementWhile federal student-loan payments resumed for most borrowers in October, Amy, 59, knew she was not expected to make any payments. "But that's not the case with student loans. "It's ridiculous these companies get contracts for federal student loans," Amy said.

Persons: Amy, servicer, —, MOHELA, Joe Biden's, servicers, Amy —, she's, that's, it's, Harris, Education Miguel Cardona Organizations: Education Department, Service, Joe Biden's Education Department, The Education Department, Aid, Biden, Harris Administration, Education

Mendoza, a former fighter for the now-disbanded Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas, dragged her children back inside the house. In interviews with Reuters, those people recounted how the attacks left conservation projects adrift, with conservationists withdrawing from environmental protection works because of fear of more violence. Municipal data from local environmental authorities and the Colombian Institute of Meteorology (IDEAM) also showed that in the year after each killing, deforestation at a local level was worse than national trends. Santofimio's killing brought his hard-fought conservation project to a halt. In the tree nursery, which stopped work after Santofimio's killing, saplings bask in the dappled sunlight beneath protective nets.

Persons: Duberney Lopez, Jorge Santofimio, PUERTO, Leidy Mendoza, Mendoza, Jorge !, they'd, Susana Muhamad, Muhamad, Colombia's, –, Armando Aroca, Santofimio, Lopez, Kevin Murakami, Comuccom, Aroca, Javier Franciso Parra, Francisco couldn't, Andres Felipe Garcia, Cormacarena, Parra, Garcia, Luisz Martinez, Martinez, La, KfW, Roberto Gomez, Gonzalo Cardona, Sara Ines Lara, Oliver Griffin, Julia Symmes Cobb, Katy Daigle, Claudia Parsons Organizations: Revolutionary Armed Forces, Colombian, Villagers, Reuters, Environment Ministry, Global, Colombian Institute of Meteorology, Comuccom, International Narcotics, Law, Affairs, U.S, National Liberation Army, UN, Programme, Meta, UNDP, Progress, World Wildlife Fund, Security, USAID, Thomson Locations: Colombia, PUERTO GUZMAN, Putumayo, Bogota, La, Meta, La Macarena, Amazonia, Puerto Guzman

☆ Student-loan borrowers facing bad customer service could be transferred to a 'high-performing' company if issues persist, Biden's Education Department says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Education Department released new guidance on holding student-loan servicers accountable. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementPresident Joe Biden's Education Department just warned student-loan companies that they can't keep getting away with bad behavior. On Thursday, the Education Department announced a new framework for holding services accountable as the transition back into repayment for millions of borrowers continues. The framework outlines how the department will monitor the quality of customer service borrowers are receiving from their servicers, along with punishments when servicers do not fulfill their contractual obligations.

Persons: servicers, —, Joe Biden's, Harris, Education Miguel Cardona Organizations: Education Department, Service, Joe Biden's Education, Biden, Harris Administration, Education, MOHELA Locations: servicers

☆ Civil rights complaints allege UPenn and Wellesley allowed antisemitism to ‘run rampant’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —A Jewish legal rights advocacy group has alleged that the University of Pennsylvania and Wellesley College have violated federal civil rights law by allowing for discrimination against Jews. The Brandeis Center, a Jewish civil rights legal organization, filed civil rights complaints with the US Department of Education on Thursday, alleging both schools failed to adequately respond to harassment of Jews. “These colleges and universities have failed to keep Jewish students safe and are in clear violation of well-established federal civil rights law,” Kenneth Marcus, founder and chairman of the Brandeis Center, said in a statement. The complaints argue both schools have violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which protects people from discrimination in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. The 27-page complaint alleges “Penn’s nurturing of a hostile environment toward Jewish students is a patent violation of” Title VI.

Persons: ” Kenneth Marcus, “ There’s, ” Marcus, ”, UPenn, Wellesley, “ Penn, Brandeis, Liz Magill, Magill, ” Magill, Paula Johnson, ” Johnson, “, RAs, Wellesley’s, CNN’s Rene Marsh, Miguel Cardona, wouldn’t, Cardona, ” Cardona, Henry Swieca, Swieca Organizations: New, New York CNN, University of Pennsylvania, Wellesley, Brandeis Center, US Department of Education, Civil, College, FBI, Ivy League school’s, of Pennsylvania, Penn, CNN, of Education, Ivy League, Columbia Business School, Wall Street, Board, School, ” Locations: New York, Israel, UPenn, Palestine, Wellesley, Gaza, Columbia

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