| | Good morning, it is Thursday, July 18, and we're covering how the Bird Flu is proving to be hard to keep under control, Biden forgives another billion in student loans, a shortage of baby formula supplies & much more!! First time reading? Sign up here. | | American Fact of the Day! | On July 18, 1925, the first volume of Adolf Hitler's autobiography and political manifesto, "Mein Kampf," was published. This book outlined Hitler's ideology, including his anti-Semitic beliefs and his plans for Germany's future, which would later have profound and tragic consequences during World War II. | | Breaking Updates | | Biden administration forgives another $1.2 billion in student loans. Here's who qualifies. | The Biden administration recently announced the forgiveness of $1.2 billion in student debt for 35,000 borrowers employed in public service roles such as teachers and firefighters. This move is part of ongoing efforts to provide relief to Americans burdened by student loans, following earlier setbacks in broader loan forgiveness plans due to Supreme Court rulings. Overall, the administration has forgiven $168.5 billion in debt for approximately 4.8 million borrowers, marking a significant effort to alleviate financial pressures on students. | The forgiven loans are part of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which aims to assist public servants by canceling their debts after ten years of qualifying payments. Initially criticized for its complexity and limited effectiveness, the PSLF program has undergone revisions under the Biden administration, making it more accessible to eligible borrowers. These changes have allowed more public sector workers to qualify for loan forgiveness, providing them with much-needed financial relief. | Looking ahead, the Biden administration continues to pursue broader student loan relief initiatives through legislative means, despite recent legal challenges to its Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan. Despite injunctions affecting parts of the program, enrollment remains open, signaling ongoing efforts to address student debt issues on a larger scale. | Read more updates here |
|
| Colorado bird flu cases show how extreme heat may be complicating efforts to control the virus | In July 2022, a troubling incident unfolded in Colorado where five workers fell ill while culling chickens infected with the H5N1 virus, a subtype of avian influenza. The extreme heat, exceeding 104 degrees Fahrenheit inside barns, likely played a role in their infections. Dr. Nirav Shah, representing the CDC, highlighted the difficulty of wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) under such conditions, exacerbated by industrial fans circulating air laden with dust and feathers known to carry the virus. These challenges compromised the workers' ability to maintain effective seals around masks and eye protection. | Despite these setbacks, genetic analysis of the virus from infected workers did not reveal mutations suggesting increased transmissibility to humans. This finding provided some reassurance amid concerns over potential wider outbreaks. The CDC promptly deployed a specialized team to assist in investigating the outbreak and tracing contacts among the approximately 160 individuals involved in the culling operation. Most symptomatic individuals tested negative, although testing uptake was high across the affected farm. | The incident underscores the complex intersection of public health and agricultural practices, especially in environments where workers face dual threats from infectious diseases and extreme weather conditions. Efforts to refine PPE guidelines and consider vaccination strategies for at-risk farm workers reflect ongoing discussions aimed at enhancing safety measures and mitigating future risks. As investigations continue, lessons learned from this outbreak are crucial in shaping proactive responses to prevent similar incidents and safeguard both agricultural workers and public health more broadly. | Read more updates here | | | American Sports & Culture |  | Is A'ja Wilson already the GOAT of women's basketball? | Wilson, only 27 years old, is racking up accomplishments and enjoying a historic season, but there are a lot of variables to the GOAT debate and the Aces superstar certainly isn't done yet. |
|
|
|  | Cavan Sullivan, 14, breaks Freddy Adu's record, debuts in an evolved MLS | Cavan Sullivan debuted for the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday — in a league, MLS, that is much better prepared to usher him toward superstardom than it was with Freddy Adu two decades ago. |
|
|
|  | Emmy nominations 2024: Complete list | "Veep" star Tony Hale and "Abbott Elementary" star Sheryl Lee Ralph announced the nominees for the 76th Emmy Awards on Wednesday. |
|
|
| American Business & Markets |  | Tornado damage could affect baby formula supplies, Reckitt says | Baby formula maker Reckitt said tornado damage to an Indiana warehouse could affect supplies of its nutrition products. |
|
|
|  | Netflix earnings: Analysts make key shift as stock tests record peak | Netflix analysts are starting to shift focus away from subscriber growth and toward engagement time and ad revenue. |
|
|
|  | Mortgage refinance demand jumps to a 2-year high, as interest rates drop | Refinance demand is still more than 70% lower than it was in early 2020, before the Covid-19 pandemic hit. |
|
|
| | American Politics |  | Biden says he'd re-evaluate staying in the race if diagnosed with a medical condition | The president continues to face calls from other Democrats to step aside after his poor debate performance last month sparked concerns over his age and mental capabilities. |
|
|
|  | Opinion | The religious JD Vance is a more MAGA Mike Pence | Vance ticks boxes with anti-abortion groups upset that the RNC watered down the party platform by removing its long-stated goal of a nationwide abortion ban. |
|
|
|  | Biden Forgives $1.2 Billion in Student Loans in Latest Relief | (Bloomberg) -- President Joe Biden canceled an additional $1.2 billion in student debt for public servants on Thursday, the latest effort to provide loan relief and deliver on one of his signature initiatives in the midst of a reelection campaign. |
|
|
| |
|
No comments:
Post a Comment