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New Biden student loan repayment plan enrolls 4 million borrowers

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:18:46 GMT

(The Hill) - The Biden administration announced on Tuesday that 4 million student loan borrowers have been enrolled in the new Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) income-driven repayment (IDR) plan two weeks after it was officially launched.The administration has touted SAVE as the “most affordable IDR plan” ever offered to borrowers, officially launching it right before interest began accruing again on student loan payments after a three-year pandemic-related pause.Officials said most of the 4 million people SAVE enrollees are those who were automatically transferred from the Revised-Pay-As-You-Earn IDR option. "Millions of borrowers are already benefitting from enrollment in the SAVE plan, and I'm thrilled to see so many Americans submitting applications every day so that they, too, can take advantage of the most affordable student loan repayment plan in history," said Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.The application for the SAVE plan was officially launched on the Federa...

Tropical Storm Lee expected to rapidly intensify to 'extremely dangerous' hurricane

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:18:46 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Tropical Storm Lee is approaching hurricane strength and is expected to rapidly intensify to an "extremely dangerous" hurricane by this weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).Lee, which formed Tuesday evening, is located about 1,265 miles east-southeast of the Northern Leeward Islands. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and is moving at about 16 mph. WATCH: 3-legged bear breaks into Florida home, drinks White Claw Lee is expected to become a hurricane sometime Wednesday. By the weekend, the NHC said the storm will likely be a major hurricane."The current forecast takes the system just north of the Caribbean Islands, but when the storm makes the turn to the north will determine if anywhere in the U.S. will feel impacts," WFLA meteorologist Leigh Spann said.The NHC said swells from Lee are expected to reach portions of the Lesser Antilles on Friday. The swells will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.Lee ...

Record heat ahead of welcome pattern change

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:18:46 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- New data shows a more convincing picture of relatively cooler and wetter weather next week, but boy, will we have to work for it.Record heat more days than notAfternoon highs will soar well above seasonal average through the remainder of the work week and weekend. Today's forecast high of 104° in Austin is likely to top 2019's record of 103° while also marking our 75th day of 100°+ for the year.A Heat Advisory is in effect for all but a few Hill County counties beginning 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. for heat index values up to 112°.Forecast heat index values - WednesdayExpect more heat alerts to be issued later this week and weekend, with some of Austin's hottest September temperatures on record expected.This week, we'll rival records for hottest September temperatures ever observed in AustinWetter, milder weather next weekAt last, we are tracking promising signs of wetter, cooler weather next week. A westerly shift in the heat dome, a potent cold front and a little help from ...

Austin startup named 2nd fastest growing company in America

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:18:46 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin-based tech startup is growing at a rapid rate.Recently, CharterUP was named the 2nd fastest-growing private company in America according to Inc. Magazine’s top 5000 list.This is quite the accomplishment for founder Armir Harris, who moved his company’s headquarters to Austin earlier this year. Transportation tech startup opens headquarters in Austin “Austin has great energy around entrepreneurship, a great entrepreneurial mindset and a great entrepreneurial spirit,” he said.Just two decades ago, Harris arrived in America as a political refugee after fleeing war-torn Albania.“We came to the U.S. with $3,000 in our pockets,” he said. “At the age of 15, before I would go to school, I would clean vans and clean limousines.”This eventually inspired Harris to create CharterUP.“We worked very closely with bus companies,” he explained. “I realized that in order to put the customer first, we needed real-time data and availability, there was simply no solution like...

Tomato-peach salad makes sweet use of seasonal fruit

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:18:46 GMT

Sometimes the best dish on a brunch or dinner table is the one made with just two or three simple ingredients.In the last, dwindling days of summer, there’s no more magical pairing for a fresh, so-easy-you-can’t-believe-it salad than tomatoes still warm from the sun and tree-ripened, local peaches.Both fruits are wonderfully juicy and super sweet, and they just go together like the proverbial peas and carrots. Plus, they’re easy to find at your favorite farmers market if you shop and eat to the season. But the best reason to saddle up to this easy salad is its palate-awakening flavors. Now is when tomatoes actually taste like tomatoes and peaches taste like peaches. Come fall, it’s back to industrially grown fruit that’s often beautiful but totally tasteless.When shopping, look for fruit that is free of bruises or blemishes. If you’re not preparing the salad for a day or so, it can be just to the left of perfectly ripe because both tomatoes and pe...

It’s corn season! Here are five recipes to help you savor it

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:18:46 GMT

Is there a summer ingredient more enticing than corn? I love it grilled to a char, slathered in butter, sliced into a salad, fried into pancakes, baked into muffins, stirred into risotto and tossed with noodles. I love elotes, esquites and arepas. I really love it in ice cream and pudding; if you haven’t had these delicacies, do it now.1. Southern Fried CornSouthern fried corn, a dish with deep roots in African American cooking, preserves fresh kernels and their natural sweetness. It’s traditionally made with corn shucked fresh from the cobs. Reserving the “milk” — the milky liquid from the lining of the cob — makes this dish lightly creamy without any cream. Sautéed with onions and jarred peppers, the kernels pick up loads of fresh flavor, then a final shower of bacon and sliced scallions adds crunch for a side dish that’s sweet, salty and perfect for any Sunday dinner.By Millie PeartreeYield: 5 cups (4 to 6 servings)Total time: 35 minutesINGREDIENTS6 fresh ears of corn4 slices thi...

Bark N' Brew at Grafton Lakes State Park

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:18:46 GMT

CROPSEYVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Pups and pints abound. Grafton Lakes State Park will be hosting their "Bark N' Brew" benefit event supporting regional rescue organizations. The event is on September 16, from noon to 3 p.m., and is free to attend with a $6 vehicle entrance fee. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Dog owners and their four-legged friends are invited to this annual event aiming to not only raise money but show how pet-friendly New York State Parks can be for dogs of all kinds. A guided dog walk, an agility course, assorted animal vendors, live music, raffles, and more all promise a good time for you and your best friend. Food and drinks will be available for an additional charge. To boost funds, local craft beers will be sold as well. Back to school picture tips from Broadalbin-Perth Any dog-related businesses interested in being a vendor or tabling the event can email [email protected]. Grafton Lakes State Park ...

St. Charles' Zumbehl Road reopening today

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:18:46 GMT

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. - One of the busiest streets in St. Charles is set to reopen later Wednesday morning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.Part of Zumbehl Road has been under construction for the past three months. The good news is that city leaders will take the barricades down later Wednesday morning.The $5.6 million project is upgrading the bridge and storm drains that have been falling apart for nearly 40 years. Crews have installed larger concrete culverts to replace old metal pipes, and they're also replacing the Zumbehl Bridge and sidewalk.While Wednesday marks a significant milestone in the 'Zumbehl Road Culvert Replacement Project,' we should mention intermittent lane closures will occur for a couple of weeks for construction on sidewalks and the surrounding landscaping. Call for Help closure has East St. Louis mothers crying for aid In March 2018, MoDOT gave the bridge a score of 49.6%.Dan Mann, the head engineer of the city of St. Charles, called the bridge "structural...

Fatal and officer-involved crash shuts down two I-70 WB locations

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:18:46 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Interstate 70 westbound was shut down in two areas overnight after two different crashes. One was deadly. The other involved a St. Louis City police unit.The second crash, involving the St. Louis City Police Unit, took place just off I-70 and Salisbury in north St. Louis. The scene has since cleared, but for a time earlier, a stretch of I-70 westbound here was closed while police investigated the incident.The situation unfolded around 3:45 a.m. Authorities told FOX 2 that a St. Louis City officer was operating a marked vehicle on I-70 westbound when another driver rear-ended the vehicle. The impact caused the officer to lose control and hit the concrete center median.We're told the officer was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries. At this point, the police shared that they have no information on the other driver who hit the officer's unit. Chuck E. Cheese giving away free birthday parties Several hours earlier, there was another crash on I-70 westbound, about...

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona's 'Back-to-School Bus Tour' coming to St. Louis today

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:18:46 GMT

ST. LOUIS - U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona brings his 'Back-to-School Bus Tour' to St. Louis Wednesday. He kicked off his week-long tour Tuesday in Topeka and Kansas City.Cardona will visit Compton-Drew Middle School in St. Louis on Wednesday morning. Along with him will be Congresswoman Cori Bush, the new superintendent of the St. Louis Public Schools, Keisha Scarlett, and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.Cardona says parents should be engaged in their children's education. Call for Help closure has East St. Louis mothers crying for aid "Communicate regularly and make sure that you're communicating the importance of having students come in regularly, let the parents know what you're doing to keep the students safe and then maintain those same protocols that you had at the height of the pandemic," Cardona expressed.On Wednesday afternoon, the officials will meet with students at Harris-Stowe State University to discuss the Biden Administra...