Feds propose new rules aimed at helping borrowers repay student loans
The U.S. Department of Education on Tuesday unveiled proposed new regulations that officials said would make it easier to afford student loans payments. The changes would revamp how federal income-driven repayment plans work by, in part, raising income thresholds so more borrowers are eligible for $0 monthly payments.
“For more Americans to realize the benefits of higher education we must make paying student loans more affordable,” said U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona during a call with reporters. “We’re making a new promise to today’s borrowers and to generations to come: Your student loan repayments will be affordable.”
About 8 million people are currently enrolled in one of the federal income-based repayment plans, and the pending updates could attract more participants, officials said.
Under the proposed new rules, single borrowers who earn less than about $30,600 a year and any borrower in a family of four who makes less than about $62,400 would not need to make any monthly loan payments. The thresholds would vary by family size.
—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hamline University at center of academic freedom debate over Islamic artwork shown in class
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The centuries-old artworks appeared on Hamline University students' computer screens during an art history class early one October morning.
The first showed the Prophet Muhammad — including his face — as he received a revelation from the Angel Gabriel that would later form the basis of the Qur'an. The second showed a similar moment, but with the prophet's face veiled and his image surrounded by a halo.
Adjunct instructor Erika López Prater thought she had gone above and beyond to help students avoid seeing the artworks if their religious views prohibited it. "I thought this would be a great opportunity to, among other things, speak to Islamic art with a little bit more nuance," she said.
Aram Wedatalla, president of the Muslim Student Association, saw the warning as further proof the instructor shouldn't have shown the images. She didn't expect a teacher to "disrespect and offend my religion like that." Now López Prater no longer teaches at Hamline and the St. Paul private college is at the center of a painful national debate over academic freedom, religious tolerance and Islamophobia.
—Star Tribune
Baltimore’s crackdown on squeegee work has begun. Here’s how it works
BALTIMORE — Baltimore’s new enforcement approach to the workers who squeegee windows for cash at city intersections began Tuesday, with the start of warnings and citations along six major thoroughfares.
Under the plan, outlined in November, city officials hope to drive squeegee workers to support services and career opportunities, while also cracking down on the practice, preventing interactions with motorists.
Police Commissioner Michael Harrison in a Monday interview with The Baltimore Sun cast the strategy as a way for police to help connect the workers with city services such as education, skills training, housing assistance and mental health or addiction treatment. City officials will be able to see the individuals whom police interact with and reach out to them with further offers of assistance.
“This is very unique,” Harrison said. “Here’s an opportunity to become a productive member of our community, where the police actually help and put you on track to get a good, wage-paying job.”
—Baltimore Sun
US Navy intercepts ship with weapons near Yemen
MANAMA, Bahrain — The U.S. Navy has intercepted a ship with hundreds of weapons on board near the war-torn country of Yemen, the Navy's 5th Fleet in Bahrain said on Tuesday.
"U.S. naval forces intercepted a fishing vessel in the Gulf of Oman, January 6, and discovered it smuggling 2,116 AK-47 assault rifles while transiting international waters along a maritime route from Iran to Yemen," a statement by the navy said.
"This shipment is part of a continued pattern of destabilizing activity from Iran," said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces.
There was no confirmation that Iran was behind the delivery. Tehran has denied supporting the Houthi rebels in Yemen financially or with arms. The U.S. Navy is regularly in the waters of the region and also inspects other ships.
—dpa
