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They graduated during the pandemic. Now they face their 1st student loan payments

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

(The Hill) -- A grace period that let people who graduated college during the coronavirus pandemic avoid paying back their federal loans is about to end, meaning millions of young people are about to take a serious financial hit. Graduates for the last three years all had the grace period, as the Trump and Biden administrations extended a pause on student loan payments amid the national health emergency. Now things are about to change: Payments will begin either 60 days after the Supreme Court rules on President Joe Biden’s student debt forgiveness program or 60 days after June 30, whichever comes first. “It's just a lot of anxiety, I think that's the best way I would describe it. It's something that every time I think about it ... I try to push it away, because I feel like getting worried about it is just going to make me more anxious,” Laura Esteban, who graduated with debt during the pandemic, told The Hill. The payment pause has been extended nine times over ...

How to protest your 2023 property appraisal in Central Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Did you already get your 2023 property appraisal? Disagree with it? Texas property owners have until May 15 to file a protest with their county's appraisal district. This year, Travis County the appraisal roll increased 13%. In Williamson County, appraised values decreased 12% from 2022. In Hays County, appraisal values went up 24% this year.If a property owner disagrees with an appraisal value, they can submit a protest to their county’s appraisal district. Then, the county’s appraisal review board hears the taxpayer's protest and resolves the dispute between the property owner and the appraisal district. The board is a citizen group that determines the outcome of a protest. The board can consider issues like a proposed property value being too high, a property valued unequal to comparable property in the appraisal district, a chief appraiser denying an exemption and other protest issues, according to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. The deadline ...

TxDot to hold hearing on widening RM 2243

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – The Texas Department of Transportation and Williamson County are holding a hearing on the proposed reconstruction and widening of Ranch to Market Road 2243 between 183A and Southwest Bypass. The hearing will be held virtually Tuesday with an in-person option, according to a county announcement from April 17. The county's announcement said the presentation will be available online starting at 9 a.m.Williamson County said the project would improve roadway design and enhance safety for drivers. The online virtual hearing will have a pre-recorded video presentation and will include both audio and visual components in both English and Spanish, according to the county. People who want to attend in-person can do so from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Parkside Elementary School at 301 Garner Park Dr. in Georgetown, according to the county. The announcement said people attending in-person will be able to view the same presentation delivered in the online public heari...

Joe Biden announces 2024 reelection bid: ‘Let’s finish this job’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Tuesday formally announced that he is running for reelection in 2024, asking voters to give him more time to “finish this job” he began when he was sworn into office and to set aside their concerns about extending the run of America’s oldest president for another four years.Biden, who would be 86 at the end of a second term, is betting his first-term legislative achievements and more than 50 years of experience in Washington will count for more than concerns over his age. He faces a smooth path to winning his party’s nomination, with no serious Democratic rivals. But he’s still set for a hard-fought struggle to retain the presidency in a bitterly divided nation.“I said we are in a battle for the soul of America, and we still are,” Biden said. “The question we are facing is whether in the years ahead we have more freedom or less freedom. More rights or fewer.”The announcement, in a three-minute video, comes on the four-year anniversary of when Bide...

Andreas Kluth: How NATO should deter Vladimir Putin’s Russia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

Come July, NATO allies will gather in Vilnius for their second summit since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his genocidal war of aggression against Ukraine. There’ll be 31 of them this time, after Finland joined the club in direct response to Putin’s bellicosity. What should they decide?One way or another, every discussion will touch on Putin. The neo-Tsarist, imperialist, irredentist and atavistic threat he represents menaces not only non-NATO countries such as Ukraine or Moldova but also NATO allies including Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. And while some items on the Vilnius agenda may seem uncontroversial, others pose dilemmas that could prove fiendish — depending on the success or failure of Ukraine’s expected “spring offensive.”The easiest category should be resources. NATO needs more. So the allies should reach a binding agreement to spend at least 2% of gross domestic product on their militaries — an arbitrary benchmark, but...

5 things to know this Tuesday, April 25

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- “Happy Tuesday! You got to admit, at least it sounds better than happy Monday.” ― Unknown. According to Meteorologist Jill Szwed, you'll need more than a light jacket this morning (looking at you, Miss Congeniality fans).  We are waking up to brighter skies. By the afternoon clouds will return along with isolated showers. This will keep us cool again with highs heading toward the low and mid-50s. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! A Cobleskill woman was killed in a car crash in Montgomery County. The crash took place in the early morning hours on Saturday. Also, a Caribbean restaurant will be opening in Troy's River Street Market coming up this summer. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Tuesday morning. 1. Cobleskill woman killed in Montgomery County car crashA woman has died after a single-car crash in Montgomery County. The crash took place around 1:30 a.m. Saturday...

Amsterdam WingFest winners announced

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

AMSTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- After over 1,000 votes cast with over 20,000 wings served, the City of Amsterdam Tourism Marketing and Recreation has announced the winners at the third annual Amsterdam WingFest. The event took place on Saturday, April 22. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Rockton House, original medium wingsSouthside Slice, slice sauce wingsGood Fellas-Pizzeria, honey hot wingAmsterdam's next big event will be Amsterdam's Spring Fling Festival, which is sponsored by the Sentinel, according to the City of Amsterdam Tourism Marketing and Recreation.

3 people in custody, 1 at large after fatal shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. - One person is dead after shots rung out on a street in Collinsville Tuesday morning. Multiple people are in custody and police may still be looking for one other person.Authorities told FOX 2 that the murder took place at the intersection of the North Seminary and West Clay Streets. This all happened very close to the Collinsville Police Department, right across the street from the location.A woman who stopped by and identified herself as the victim's mother shared that her son who was shot and killed was 19 years old.Collinsville police rushed to the scene around 7:00 p.m. after getting a call for shots fired with multiple people running from the scene. Upon arrival, they found one person on the sidewalk suffering from gunshot wounds. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News ...

Three homes damaged in house fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

GRANITE CITY, Ill. - Emergency crews are at the scene of a fire that has damaged three homes early Tuesday morning. Our Nissan Rogue Runner reporter Nic Lopez captured footage of the scene located on the 2100 block of Miracle Avenue where one home initially caught fire, then the heat from the flames traveled to two neighboring homes - damaging the side of one and the roof of the other. Gardner won’t be held in contempt, judge rules The cause of the fire has not been revealed. So far, no injuries have been reported. FOX 2 will update this story with more information as it becomes available.

Katie's Pizza and Pasta Osteria hosts 'Giveback Tuesday' event today

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

TOWN AND COUNTRY, Mo. - Katie's Pizza and Pasta Osteria is planning a donation event Tuesday.They'll give funding raised through their 'Giveback Tuesday' event to Nightlight Christian Adoptions, a non-profit that offers foster services. Fraternity brother in brutal Mizzou hazing case takes plea deal To date, the Giveback Tuesday Program has donated more than 352,000 to charity.