Latest news with #HannahBeier
Business Mayor
05-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Trump administration restarts student loan collections for millions in default
A person walks on campus at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. March 26, 2025. Hannah Beier | Reuters Borrowers face plan changes, long waits for help Collection activity on federal student loans has mostly been paused for half a decade. During that period, there have been sweeping changes and disruptions to the lending system. Millions of borrowers who signed up for the Biden administration's new repayment plan, known as SAVE, were caught in limbo after GOP-led lawsuits managed to get the plan blocked in the summer of last year. Many of those borrowers will now have to switch out of a Biden-era payment pause and into another repayment plan that will spike their monthly bill. In recent months, the Trump administration has eliminated the forgiveness provision from some student loan repayment plans. It also terminated staff at the Education Department, including many of the people who helped assist borrowers. Now some student loan borrowers report waiting hours on the phone before being able to reach someone about their debt. (The Trump administration has told defaulted borrowers to contact the department for options on getting current.) 'The timing of the layoffs is unfortunate, given the need for borrowers to get help,' said higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz, who added that he's heard from people stuck waiting on hold as long as eight hours to speak with someone at the department or their loan servicer. Borrowers in default may see credit scores decline Restarting collections while the federal student loan system is facing so much uncertainty 'will further fan the flames of economic chaos for working families across this country,' said Mike Pierce, the executive director of the Student Borrower Protection Center. Read More British Gas sending £2,000 to state pensioners in December In addition to garnished paychecks and benefits, the millions of borrowers who are already late on their payments may see their credit scores tank by as much as 129 points as the Education Department ramps up collection activity, VantageScore recently wrote. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve predicted in March that some people with a delinquency could see their scores fall by as much as 171 points. Credit scores typically range from 300 to 850, with around 670 and higher considered good. Lower credit scores can lead to higher borrowing costs on consumer loans such as mortgages, car loans and credit cards. 'We've been seeing clients with delinquent accounts who reached out after noticing a drop in their credit scores,' said Carolina Rodriguez, director of the Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program in New York. She said one client hasn't made a payment on her student debt since last year because she can't afford her $200 monthly bill. 'She's making $45,000 and living in New York City,' Rodriguez said. 'Every month, she's in the red.' Are you at risk of collection activity because you're behind on your student loans? If you're willing to share your experience for an upcoming story, please email me at READ SOURCE
ABC News
22-04-2025
- Health
- ABC News
South Australian councils 'irresponsible' for promoting vaccine scepticism
Medical experts say motions passed by local councils in South Australia promoting vaccine scepticism are putting the community at risk. Since the start of this year, three local councils in South Australia's Limestone Coast region — the District Council of Grant, the District Council of Robe, and the Naracoorte-Lucindale Council — have passed motions promoting scepticism about the safety of vaccines. In addition, the Limestone Coast Local Government Association (LCLGA), made up of all the councils in the region, voted in favour of such a motion. COVID-19 vaccines were first approved for use in Australia in February 2021. ( Reuters: Hannah Beier ) The motions passed by the LCLGA, Robe, and Naracoorte-Lucindale councils call on staff to write to state and federal health ministers to "ensure all vaccinations, both present and future, are tested to ensure they are free from contaminants and safe for human vaccination". University of Queensland infectious disease physician and clinical microbiologist Professor Paul Griffin has worked on the development of 125 vaccines and malaria human challenge studies. He said the motions imply that past vaccines had not gone through a rigorous testing process. Professor Paul Griffin has worked on developing a range of vaccines, including eight for COVID-19. ( Supplied ) "We have one of the strictest regulatory environments in the world," Professor Griffin said. "We make sure we have tested vaccines thoroughly, that they have to be safe and effective to be approved, and that they have to remain so to be continued to be used. "We carefully assess the ingredients as well as the safety in recipients on a continual basis to make sure that remains the case." 'Scientific rigour' A trend of local governments passing motions regarding vaccinations began in October 2024 The motion and subsequent motions passed by other councils are based on a debunked claim mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations were contaminated with excessive DNA. The Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccine was a key part of Australia's vaccine rollout. ( ABC News: Che Chorley ) A Canadian study claimed to confirm earlier findings by US molecular biologist Dr Philip Buckhaultz, but those findings have been debunked by fact-checking organisation The Therapeutic Goods Administration said it was aware of "These reports are based on studies conducted by a small number of laboratories that have attempted to investigate the amount of DNA in COVID-19 vaccines," the TGA website stated. " While the TGA welcomes and constantly reviews the latest scientific evidence about the safety of vaccines and other biotechnology products, these recent studies fail to apply the required scientific rigour expected in pharmaceutical testing. " Councils deny being anti-vaccination The District Council of Grant was the first to move a motion directly referencing vaccines, in which it called the COVID-19 vaccine "experimentally approved" — When sent questions about her council's motion, Mayor Kylie Boston said the council supported "the role of SA Health in keeping our community safe". The Limestone Coast Local Government Association, made up of the seven councils in the region, also voted to write to state and federal health ministers about vaccines. "The discussion on the floor at the meeting was that none of those present had any expertise in medical matters and can make no judgement on the efficacy or otherwise of vaccines," LCLGA president and Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin said. " However, as this matter is of concern to some members of the community, the board determined therefore to bring it to the attention of the relevant ministers. " Lynette Martin said the LCLGA raised the matter as it was of concern "to some members of the community". ( ABC News: Isadora Bogle ) Naracoorte-Lucindale Council passed a motion after being presented with a petition signed by 25 residents. Mayor Patrick Ross said the council was seeking "assurances" about vaccine safety, but denied his council was questioning official health bodies and was anti-vaccination. Naracoorte-Lucindale Council Mayor Patrick Ross denied his council was questioning official health bodies. ( Facebook: Naracoorte-Lucindale Council ) "It has been said certainly by some of our councillors that we aren't medical experts, and have we gone and sought independent verifiable information? No, we haven't," he said. "We just wish to ensure, by asking our politicians and people responsible for the health of the nation, that if there was some erring or if there was some doubt, then that doubt should be removed." Severe flu season expected Medical experts are concerned this year's A Professor Griffin said it was irresponsible for elected officials to promote vaccine misinformation in council chambers. Professor Griffin said vaccine misinformation is leading to real consequences in the community. ( Supplied ) "To be elected, there are certain skills and expertise those people must possess to do that and we should respect their ability to fulfil that role," he said. "When it comes to health matters, we should exercise that same respect and get our advice from people with sufficient expertise to make comment. "Australia is very lucky. We have an excellent healthcare system, a magnificent academic and university infrastructure where there are a lot of experts, and I think that's where we should try to get our information." ABC South East SA — local news in your inbox Get our local newsletter, delivered free each Friday Your information is being handled in accordance with the Email address Subscribe
