WEATHER ALERT
Colleges should step up diversity efforts after affirmative action ruling, the government says
Read full article: Colleges should step up diversity efforts after affirmative action ruling, the government saysThe Biden administration is asking America’s colleges to step up their efforts to make campuses more racially diverse.
Man sentenced to 45 years in prison for murder of Volusia man he met on dating app
Read full article: Man sentenced to 45 years in prison for murder of Volusia man he met on dating appA man convicted of second-degree murder in the death of a 63-year-old man he met through a dating app was sentenced to 45 years in prison on Thursday in Volusia County.
After cancellation, Dems look to reduce future student debt
Read full article: After cancellation, Dems look to reduce future student debtHouse Democrats are proposing new legislation that would increase federal student aid, lower interest rates on loans and take other steps to make college more affordable.
US education chief seeks action to prevent school shootings
Read full article: US education chief seeks action to prevent school shootingsEducation Secretary Miguel Cardona says he's ashamed the United States is "becoming desensitized to the murder of children” and he's calling for action to prevent more lives from being lost in school shootings like the one in Uvalde, Texas.
Feds: Thousands may have student debt that should be erased
Read full article: Feds: Thousands may have student debt that should be erasedA new federal report finds that record-keeping failures by the Education Department may have left thousands of Americans stuck with student debt that should have been forgiven.
McAuliffe's backslapping political brand put to test in 2021
Read full article: McAuliffe's backslapping political brand put to test in 2021Terry McAuliffe won Virginia’s 2013 governor’s race by embracing his own brand of personal politics that rely on decades-old friendships, backslapping charisma and tell-it-like-it-is authenticity.
Black colleges' funding hopes dim amid federal budget battle
Read full article: Black colleges' funding hopes dim amid federal budget battleOfficials at historically Black colleges thought they might finally have a pipeline for long-term funding from the federal government after the Biden administration included at least $45 billion for them in its multitrillion dollar economic package.
Accused killer indicted for first-degree murder in death of man he met on dating app, records show
Read full article: Accused killer indicted for first-degree murder in death of man he met on dating app, records showAn accused killer now faces a first-degree murder charge in the death of a 63-year-old man who he met through a dating app, records show.
Federal investigators to probe Florida school policing plan
Read full article: Federal investigators to probe Florida school policing planThe U.S. Department of Education has opened an investigation into whether a Florida school district broke federal law when it shared private information about students with the local sheriff’s office.
WATCH LIVE: White House COVID-19 Response Team holds press briefing
Read full article: WATCH LIVE: White House COVID-19 Response Team holds press briefingThe plan faces opposition from Republicans who want to tie new school funding to reopening. The panel met Tuesday to craft its portion of a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that tracks with Biden's plan for battling the pandemic and reviving a still staggering economy. Biden's plan for $130 billion in school funding is in addition to more than $8 billion from previous relief packages. Stop ruining their futures and stop playing games.”Scott countered that schools can't make changes needed to reopen safely unless they get the funding in Biden's plan. AdRepublicans also signaled a fight over standardized testing, backing a proposed change to prevent relief funding from being used on academic assessments.
Dems attempt to push through school funding, wage increase
Read full article: Dems attempt to push through school funding, wage increaseThe plan faces opposition from Republicans who want to tie new school funding to reopening. Biden's plan for $130 billion in school funding is in addition to more than $8 billion from previous relief packages. Stop ruining their futures and stop playing games.”Scott countered that schools can't make changes needed to reopen safely unless they get the funding in Biden's plan. AdRepublicans also signaled a fight over standardized testing, backing a proposed change to prevent relief funding from being used on academic assessments. The $350 billion portion of the bill before the committee also includes Biden's plan to raise the minimum wage from $7.25, where is has been since 2009.
Dems propose $1,400 payments as part of Biden virus relief
Read full article: Dems propose $1,400 payments as part of Biden virus reliefLess than three weeks into his presidency, Biden has declared that vanquishing the virus and resuscitating the economy are his top priorities. AdHouse Education and Labor Committee Democrats also previewed their plans Monday. Couples who make up to $150,000 would be entitled to $2,800 relief payments, which would gradually diminish and fully disappear for those earning $200,000. Biden has said he will not allow the per-person payments to fall below $1,400 but has indicated flexibility on the income thresholds. A federal law known as COBRA already allows them to temporarily keep their old employer’s health plan, but they typically have to pay prohibitively high premiums.
Man arrested, charged with murder after 63-year-old Volusia man went missing
Read full article: Man arrested, charged with murder after 63-year-old Volusia man went missingVOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A man has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder after a man went missing in Volusia County. According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, Michael Harris Jr., 20, was taken into custody Saturday for the murder of 63-year-old Bobby Scott. Deputies found Scott’s vehicle in Deland, two days after he was reported missing. [RELATED: Missing 63-year-old Volusia man could be in Orlando area, deputies say]“Harris added that he had not had contact with Scott since then,” deputies said. “Detectives are actively pursuing all leads in reference to Scott’s missing body,” deputies said.
Missing 63-year-old Volusia man could be in Orlando area, deputies say
Read full article: Missing 63-year-old Volusia man could be in Orlando area, deputies sayDeputies with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office are searching for a missing 63-year-old man. VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Deputies with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office are searching for a missing 63-year-old man. The sheriff’s office said Bobby Scott has been missing since Sunday. Deputies said it is possible Scott traveled to the Orlando area. Anyone with information about Scott is asked to call 386-254-1537 and type in extension 11842.
Trump eases rules for religious social service providers
Read full article: Trump eases rules for religious social service providersIt also removes a rule telling religious groups to give clients written notice about their rights, including that they can’t be forced to participate in religious activities. Trump also vowed to protect prayer in public schools and bolster the rights of religious groups on college campuses. Civil rights group blasted the new changes, saying the previous rules were meant to protect LGBTQ people, religious minorities and others who may face discrimination from religious groups. American Atheists, a civil rights group, said the previous rules were created with support from religious and civil rights groups alike. Religious groups applauded the changes, while civil rights groups said they opened the door for discrimination.
Trump, DeVos raise school choice in appeal to vexed parents
Read full article: Trump, DeVos raise school choice in appeal to vexed parentsDeVos and President Donald Trump have repeatedly invoked school choice as the solution to parents’ woes. And in fact, we are.”In nearly every public appearance she has made during the pandemic, DeVos has used the spotlight to draw attention to school choice. Her focus on school choice has drawn sharp opposition from Democrats and public school leaders. And supporters of school choice say DeVos is right to press for the issue now. “I’m focused on students, not on school buildings, school systems or any word that comes before school,” DeVos said.
US Sen. Stabenow urges USDA to extend food program waivers
Read full article: US Sen. Stabenow urges USDA to extend food program waiversThe U.S. Department of Agriculture will not continue to provide food program waivers that have ensured students are fed while schools are closed during the coronavirus pandemic unless Congress acts, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan warned Tuesday. Some children get their only meals at school. Should Congress choose to go in this direction, USDA stands ready to provide technical assistance.The USDA did not return a request for further comment Tuesday. She said she hoped it was not coming from the Trump administrations push to put students back in schools for in-person instruction. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Democrats say White House blocking CDC head from testifying
Read full article: Democrats say White House blocking CDC head from testifyingDirector of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Robert Redfield, speaks during a White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing at the Department of Education July 8, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)WASHINGTON House Democrats are criticizing the White House for blocking the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from testifying at a public hearing on safely reopening the nation's schools. Democrats said they invited CDC officials, including director Robert Redfield, to testify at a hearing next Thursday but were rebuffed by the White House. A committee spokesperson said the panel asked for any CDC official to testify but was rejected. A White House spokesperson said Friday that Dr. Redfield has testified on Capitol Hill at least four times over the last three months.