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Biden announces more student debt relief as payments resume after the coronavirus pandemic pause

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:53 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden announced another round of federal student loan forgiveness on Wednesday as borrowers brace for payments to restart after a three-year pause that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Democratic president’s latest step will help 125,000 borrowers by erasing $9 billion in debt through existing relief programs. In total, 3.6 million borrowers will have had $127 billion in debt wiped out since Biden took office. “President Biden has long believed that college should be a ticket to the middle class, not a burden that weighs on families,” the White House said in a statement.Biden was scheduled to make a formal announcement at the White House in the afternoon.He promised to help alleviate the burden of student debt while running for president, and he’s been under pressure to follow through even though his original plan was overturned by the conservative majority on the Supreme Court.He has been relying on a patchwork of different program...

S&P/TSX composite down as price of oil and energy stocks fall, U.S. stock markets up

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:53 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index was down in late-morning trading as the price of oil fell and losses in energy stocks weighed on the market.The S&P/TSX composite index was down 56.87 points at 18,964.05.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 5.08 points at 33,007.46. The S&P 500 index was up 8.61 points at 4,238.06, while the Nasdaq composite was up 93.36 points at 13,152.83.The Canadian dollar traded for 72.70 cents US compared with 72.93 cents US on Tuesday.The November crude contract was down US$3.00 at US$86.23 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was up six cents at US$3.01 per mmBTU.The December gold contract was down US$3.10 at US$1,838.40 an ounce and the December copper contract was down five cents at US$3.57 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 4, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) The Canadian Press

Youngkin administration says unknown number of eligible voters were wrongly removed from rolls

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:53 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration acknowledged this week, with early voting underway, that it is working to fix an error that caused an unknown number of eligible Virginians to be removed from the voter rolls. State election officials are working with Virginia State Police to identify voters whose registration was “canceled in error” and begin the process of having those people immediately reinstated, Andrea Gaines, a spokesperson for the Department of Elections, told VPM News Tuesday. The Richmond news outlet reported the problem appears to stem from recent changes the agency has made in an attempt to remove people from the rolls who had their voting rights restored by a governor but went on to be convicted of a new felony.In Virginia, a felony conviction automatically results in the loss of a person’s civil rights, such as the right to vote, serve on a jury, run for office and carry a firearm. The governor has the sole discretion to restore thos...

Illinois DCFS director resigns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:53 GMT

CHICAGO — The head of Illinois’ child welfare agency announced his resignation during a zoom meeting with staff today, according to participants. Gov. JB Pritzker appointed Marc Smith to lead the Department of Children and Family Services in April 2019. Neither DCFS nor the governor’s office responded to inquiries. Smith’s tenure coincided with a surge in the number of kids being monitored by the agency and a global pandemic that made finding shelter and foster care for kids in crisis extra challenging. WGN Investigates reported in 2019 that an increasing number of kids were sleeping in DCFS offices due to a lack of appropriate placement options.Pritzker called the conditions “unacceptable” and Smith vowed to tackle the problem and open “welcome centers” to accommodate kids. However, in 2022, lawmakers summoned Smith to hearings sparked by WGN Investigates reporting and the director acknowledged nearly 200 kids had spent at least one night in space not licensed as a proper...

Mayor Johnson signs order to establish city's first chief homelessness officer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:53 GMT

CHICAGO — Mayor Johnson announced Tuesday a new executive order establishing a chief homelessness officer for the City of Chicago.It will be the first ever position of its kind in the city."It’s long overdue to provide solutions for stable, permanent and affordable housing for more than 68,000 of our unhoused neighbors,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. "By establishing a Chief Homelessness Officer for the City of Chicago, we will have a critical point of contact to coordinate efforts and leverage the full force of government to provide shelter for all people."Johnson said the new position will be responsible for addressing the complexities of homelessness and housing insecurity in Chicago, fostering greater policy and operational coordination across city departments and sister agencies and providing strong leadership to effect improvements."Chicago Funders Together to End Homelessness is so pleased to partner with Mayor Johnson to create the first-ever Chief Homelessness Officer positio...

A new communications tool helps to prepare for floods

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Flooding continues to be the most frequent severe weather-related threat in Central Texas and across the country. It's not just a major threat but a costly one as well.The National Weather Service has a new tool designed to help emergency and water managers be better prepared for and respond to flooding. This new feature being added to the NWS' suite of products will work to support flash flood watch information and warnings. It's a product that will provide near-real-time, high-resolution street visualizations showing when, where, and how much flood waters are forecast. It's the first of its kind.Proper and timely communication is essential because lives are at stake in a flooding situation. This new modeling will provide more pertinent information for emergency managers, so they can be better prepared to mitigate and reply to flood impacts.A spokesperson for NOAA's National Weather Center says it will, among other things, assist emergency management officials to p...

Emergency drill this afternoon at Glens Falls Hospital

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:53 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - This afternoon, first responders from around the city will be at Glens Falls Hospital, going through a safety drill. Locals who pass by and notice a police presence don't need to worry about an actual emergency taking place. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! From 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, members of the Glens Falls Police Department, Warren County Sheriff's Office, and New York State Police will be at the hospital, joined by other local first responders. The organizations will be onsite in order to carry out an Incident Response Drill.Incident Response Drills are often used to test safety systems and ensure that buildings can be evacuated or shelter reached in case of emergency. Drills are recommended on an annual basis.

VT man charged with attempted murder in domestic incident

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:53 GMT

ORWELL, Vt. (NEWS10) -- A Vermont man was arrested on Sunday and faces several charges, including attempted murder. Daniel Richland, 32, had been sought after by police since September 19. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Police asked the public for help in finding Richland following a domestic incident. He was taken into custody on Sunday night in Orwell, Vermont. Charges:Attempted murderKidnappingUnlawful restraintBurglaryOccupied dwelling Forest Rangers, State Police respond to fatal ATV crash Richland was arraigned Monday in Bennington District Court. The Manchester, Vermont Police Department released a statement regarding the apprehension of Richland. "The successful apprehension of Daniel Richland demonstrates the effectiveness of community engagement and collaboration in maintaining safety and security within our region."

Hiker airlifted from Algonquin Peak trail

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:53 GMT

NORTH ELBA, N.Y. (NEWS10) - At the end of September, an injured hiker on an Adirondack mountain required a rescue by air. An aviation rescue was performed along the Algonquin Peak trail. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Forest Rangers received a call at about 5:40 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30, reporting a hiker with an unstable lower leg injury along the trail. A helicopter with the New York State Police Aviation Unit was called in, and a ranger airdropped to the hiker's position. The 33-year-old Canada resident was stabilized, hoisted, and flown to hospital care. Adirondack landscapes at center of Chapman exhibit The Algonquin Trail provides a route to Algonquin Peak and Wright Peak, both located near Lake Placid. The 8.4-mile hike is considered challenging, with the Algonquin Peak route leading to the second-highest point of elevation in New York at 5,115 feet. Algonquin and Wright are both Adirondack High Peaks mountains.

Attorney general urges Tyson Foods to sell two southern Missouri plants

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:53 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey wants Tyson Foods to sell two plants at risk of closing doors in southern Missouri. Bailey directed a letter to Tyson Foods CEO Donnie D. King on Tuesday in an effort to prevent plants in small Missouri communities, Dexter and Noel, from closing. Tyson announced plans to close both Missouri plants and two others in August, though the exact timetable for that remains unclear. Alderwoman grabs mic after questions about her absence from meetings In his latter, Bailey cites "serious concern" for working-class families in southern Missouri. "These plants are critical to local communities," said Bailey in the letter. "Closure will have ripple effects that will harm more than just the individuals who would lose their factory jobs. How can a restaurant or grocery store in a town of 2,000 people expect to stay open when 1,500 people lose their jobs? What will chicken farmers and grain growers do if the plants they have lon...