Greene County Democrat

Category: World News

  • Newswire: Mississippi House passes Medicaid Expansion, Alabama lags behind

    By: Alabama Political Reporter Staff
    In a striking departure from Alabama’s hesitant stance on health care reform, Mississippi has taken a bold step forward, with its Republican-led legislature spearheading the push to expand Medicaid. This move, encapsulated in the swift passage of House Bill 1725, is a testament to Mississippi’s commitment to addressing the health care needs of its working and low-income families.
    The Mississippi House of Representatives, demonstrating remarkable unity and purpose, approved the Medicaid expansion bill with an impressive 98-20 vote. This legislative milestone aims to extend crucial health care benefits to a broader swath of Mississippians, potentially marking a transformative moment in the state’s health policy.
    At the forefront of this legislative victory is Missy McGee, the House Medicaid Chair from Hattiesburg, who has emerged as a vocal advocate for the bill. A Republican, McGee has framed the Medicaid expansion as not just a policy initiative but a moral duty, urging colleagues to rise above partisan considerations in the interest of public health.
    The bill, which was ushered through the House in a brisk 15-minute session, now heads to the Senate, where a similar spirit of reform is brewing. With both chambers engaged in a concerted effort, Mississippi is poised to join the ranks of states that have embraced Medicaid expansion, signaling a bipartisan commitment to health care reform.Crafted by House Speaker Jason White and McGee, the legislation proposes to widen Medicaid eligibility to individuals earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty line. This expansion includes a controversial work requirement, although the bill is structured to proceed with or without federal consent for this provision.
    Speaker White, in a post-vote briefing, underscored the dual advantages of the expansion, highlighting not only the health benefits but also the potential economic uplift for Mississippi. Despite Governor Tate Reeves’ historical skepticism towards Medicaid expansion, there is a growing optimism that the evident benefits of the bill will sway his stance.
    McGee’s post-vote reflections stressed the need to move beyond past resistance and engage with tangible solutions that will broaden health care access, benefiting hundreds of thousands of Mississippi’s working-class citizens.

  • Tuesday March 5 primary features national and local political races

    Next Tuesday, March 5th, voters throughout Alabama will have a chance to vote in the Democratic or Republican primary to choose candidates for offices from President, Congress and down the ballot to local offices.

    There is also one Statewide Amendment on both party ballots, which would allow the Alabama Legislature to pass local legislation and Constitutional Amendments before approving an annual budget. The current legislative rules often result in limitations and problems passing local legislation at the very end of the session, after the budget has been passed. Most statewide political organizations are supporting a “yes” vote on this Statewide Amendment No. 1.

    In the Democratic Primary, voters will have a choice for President between incumbent Joseph R. Biden Jr., Dean Phillips and Uncommitted.
    Further down the ballot they will have a choice of voting for up to nine persons to serve as delegates for Biden and two for Uncommitted. The names of nine persons: Helenor Bell, Linda Coleman-Bell, Christopher John England, Rolanda Hollis, Kevin Lawrence, Robert L. Stewart, Albert Turner Jr., Sheila Tyson and Warren ‘Billy’ Young, are listed as delegates for Biden from our Congressional District.

    Also in the Democratic Primary, voters will choose a candidate for U. S. Representative for the 7th Congressional District, between seven term incumbent, Terri A Sewell, and Chris Davis, a Birmingham attorney and political staffer.

    On the Democratic ballot there is a local contest for Circuit Court Judge of the 17th Judicial Circuit, including Greene, Sumter, and Marengo counties, between current District Attorney Gregory S. Griggers and Robert “Rob” J. Lee, a Eutaw attorney. These two White lawyers are vying to fill the seat of Circuit Judge Eddie Hardaway, an African American, who is term limited by age. There were no Black lawyers living in the rural district, who qualified to run.

    Black voters in the three Black Belt counties have a difficult choice between two white candidates, to choose “the lesser of two evils”. Neither of the candidates have a strong record of supporting Black people and issues of concern to Black people.

    On the Republican ballot, there are seven choices for President, including Donald J. Trump, Nikki Haley, Uncommitted and others who have already suspended their campaigns.

    Republicans will choose between Christian Horn and Robin Litaker for the candidate to run for 7th District Congressperson against incumbent Terri Sewell, who is likely to win the Democratic nomination to run for an eight term.

    Republicans will also choose between Sarah Stewart and Bryan Taylor for Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court; Chad Hanson and Stephen Davis Parker for Court of Civil Appeals; Rich Anderson and Thomas Govan for Court of Criminal Appeals; and Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh and Robert L. McCollum, for President of the Public Service Commission.

    The Co-Publishers of the Greene County Democrat are urging all registered voters to vote in the March 5th Democratic or Republican primaries. We must vote, in every election, to keep renewing and supporting democracy in our nation.

  • Newswire : Greene County Career Center scholars highlight course achievements

    L to R: Keyora Cross, Kaden Roberts, Quentin Walton, Jr., Brianna Powell, Marlene Lee, Kayla Nickson, and Jeremiah Bullock

    The Greene County Board of Education held its monthly meeting, Monday, February 26, 2024, with all members present. The board held a student hearing prior to the official meeting, which progressed one hour past the scheduled time for the opening of the Board meeting,
    A highlight of the meeting included presentations from Greene County Career Center scholars. Each student presented a brief summary of a Career Center course in which they are engaged. Keyora Cross presented from Health Science; Kaden Roberts presented from Modern Manufacturing; Quentin Walton, Jr. presented from Marketing, Brianna Powell presented from Jobs for Alabama’s Graduates (JAG), Marlene Lee presented from Cosmetology and Jeremiah Bullock presented from Welding.
    Ms. Teresa Atkins, Greene County Career Center Director, asked students to introduce themselves and give a brief statement of their work, since the time allotted for them was very short. Other Career Center instructors and staff present in support of the students included Angela White, Counselor; LaMonica Little, Career Coach; Nicole Henley, Health Science; Patricia Rhone, Business Administration; Shamyra Jones, JAG Specialist; and Dexter Hinton, Modern Manufacturing.
    Instructors and staff not able to attend with the students included: Tomora Morris (Marketing); Paula Calligan (Cosmetology); Zachary Rutledge (Welding); Jackie Clark (HVAC) and Tweila Morris (Secretary).
    The Board approved the following personnel items recommended by Superintendent Dr. Corey Jones.
    Employment: Jimirriam Roscoe – CNP Cook at Greene County High, effective January 29, 2024; Antonique Wilder – Long Term Sub, 7th/8th Grade Math at Robert Brown Middle; Linda Davis – Substitute CNP Cook.
    Catastrophic Sick Leave for Cindy Taylor, Attendance/Truancy Officer for the Greene County School System.
    Supplement for La Tanya Cockrell to serve as Superintendent’s Secretary, effective January 2024.
    Supplement Contracts – Rodney Wesley, Assistant Boys Track Coach; Victoria Moore, Head Girls Track Coach; Torethia Mitchel, Assistant Girls Track Coach; Denzel Davis, Assistant Baseball Coach.
    The board approved the following administrative items recommended by Superintendent Jones.
    * Change order to replace ceramic tile in 5 locations at Eutaw Primary School by Floors and More, LLC in the amount of $6,564.
    * Lowest responsible bid from Stateline Mechanical to install HVAC equipment at Robert Brown Middle School in the amount of $1,499,000.
    * Travel for Superintendent Dr. Corey Jones to attend NSBA Conference and Exposition in New Orleans, LA on July 5 – 8, 2024.
    * Travel for Board member Robert Davis to attend NSBA Conference and Exposition in New Orleans, LA on July 5 – 8, 2024.
    * Out of state field trip request for Lamonica Little and 11th grade students to tour Jackson State University and Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi on April 10, 2024.
    * Travel to attend SREB Making Schools Work Conference – Nashville, TN – July 8 – 12, 2024 -Dr. Corey Jones, Dr. Charlayne Jordan and Garry Rice.
    * Lowest quote from Joe Hurst, JAZJ Painting in the amount of $8,380 to paint the kitchen area at each school.
    * MOA between the Greene County Board of Education and The University of Alabama at Birmingham for Robert Brown Middle and Greene County High School to participate in the Alabama Rural Learning Accelerator Program.
    * Agreement between Greene County Board of Education and Tammy W. Lewis MSCCC-SLP to provide virtual speech-language services to students in Greene County Schools as indicated in their IEP.
    * LEA Consolidated and Parent Engagement Plan for FY 2024.
    * Payment of all bills, claims, and payroll.
    * Bank reconciliations as submitted by Mrs. Marquita Lennon, CSFO.
    Proposed 2024-2025 Academic Calendar Option 1.
    CSFO, Marquita Lennon, presented the following monthly financials as of January 31, 2024.
    Operating Reserve: 5.94 (months) combined general fund reserve; 4.87 (months) cash reserve. All bank accounts have been reconciled. General Fund Bank Balance – $5,989,902.60 (Reconciles to the Summary Cash Report). Payroll Check Register – $285,784.90; Payroll Register – $945,182.32 (Total gross pay to include employer match items). Combined Ending Fund Balance – $7,307,781.28. Local Revenue: Property Taxes – $1,948,298; Sales Taxes – $98,226; Other Taxes – $4,095; Total – $2,050,619.
    Dr. Daniel Boyd, consultant who is leading Superintendent Jones annual evaluation, presented the evaluation process to the board which utilizes eight standards and five indicators, including various surveys/questionnaires. Through these he will collect data from board members and school personnel that the superintendent supervises directly and who report directly to the superintendent and make his report to the board between March and April. The superintendent’s self-assessment will also be included in the summary findings.
    Dr. Boyd stated that the areas of improvement noted in Dr. Jones previous year’s evaluation included leadership, communication and community affairs. For the current evaluation, Dr. Jones must provide internal data sources, 16 artifacts documenting various areas of his performance.
    .

  • Newswire : Plastics are threatening Ghana’s wild fish industry

    Feb. 26, 2024 (GIN) – Environmentalists are worried. Plastics, tons of it, are being produced annually but 70 percent of it ends up in landfills or is incinerated.  Several studies have predicted that by the middle of the 21st century, there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s ocean.
     
    In Ghana, some of the effects of ocean pollution are already being seen as fisher folks are catching more plastic than fish.  “For some years now, whenever we cast our nets, all we catch are plastics,” said Kwame Nkum, a Ghanaian who claims to know about the problem first hand. “Sometimes, after a whole haul, you only get a dozen fishes and the rest is just waste.”
     
    Of Ghana’s total plastic waste, an estimated 86 percent is improperly disposed of, resulting in plastics clogging up storm water drains, rivers and streams and ending up in the oceans. 
     
    -With such a huge plastic waste problem, Ghana has an overall Ocean Health Index score of 65 out of 100, which is said to be lower than the global average score of 69. The country is ranked 160 out of 220 regions on the index.
     
    All this plastic waste poses a dire threat to Ghana’s fishing industry which employs 200,000 fishers, delivering 80 percent of total fish supply locally and providing a livelihood to over 2 million people including thousands of market women.  
     
    While several other African countries have adopted punitive legislative anti-plastic bans targeting the importation, production, and consumption of single use plastics, Ghana has been slow to tackle plastics.
     
    New tools to increase plastic waste collection and recycling are being developed along the lines of carbon credits – collectively called “plastic credits”. With these tools, the World Bank has just announced a $100M waste reduction bond for plastic and carbon credits. This innovative bond provides investors with a financial return linked to Plastic Waste Collection Credits, Plastic Waste Recycling Credits (collectively, plastic credits), and Verified Carbon Units (carbon credits). 
     
    In addition to reducing plastic pollution, these bonds will address local pollution and air quality, reduce associated health impacts, and create jobs in often overlooked and marginalized communities. 
     
    Alexander Onica of Skandia, a Swedish financial services corporation, commented: “We are very pleased to participate in the Plastic Waste Reduction-Linked Bond. It’s a very good example of how investment capital can both generate a good return for our customers and at the same time contribute to solving some of today’s global challenges.  “The large amount of plastic that pollutes the world’s oceans are everyone’s responsibility,” said Onica.. “I’m pleased that Skandia is participating and contributing to part of the solution.”
     
    Elsewhere, Kenya and Rwanda continue to break records in recycling plastic waste.  This week, a group of Kenyan women could be seen picking up plastic waste that will serve to build freezers. The waste is sold to Kuza Freezer where employees break down the plastics into pellets before molding them into cold storage units.
     
    Rwanda has been carrying out national bans to reduce the consumption and manufacturing of single use plastics since 2004. Rwanda was the first country in the African region to introduce a law banning plastic and is now recognized as one of the few countries in the world to progressively react to the issue of plastic pollution.

  • Newswire : Historic Obesity Bill of Rights unveiled amidst surging obesity rates nationwide

    Black woman suffering with obesity


    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent


    In response to a relentless surge in obesity rates nationwide, a powerful alliance of leading consumer advocates, aging experts, and public health groups have introduced the groundbreaking Obesity Bill of Rights for Americans. The initiative, with the National Consumers League (NCL) and the National Council on Aging (NCOA) at its forefront, aims to transform obesity care by enacting significant changes in federal, state, and employer policies.

    The Obesity Bill of Rights is the culmination of a yearlong, meticulous fact-finding effort involving experts and communities, marking a crucial turning point in the battle against the United States’ most pervasive and expensive chronic disease. Shockingly, even a decade after the American Medical Association (AMA) classified obesity as a severe disease requiring comprehensive care, it continues to be largely overlooked and untreated.

    “Our aim with the Obesity Bill of Rights is to designate quality obesity care as the inherent right of all adults, empowering those with the disease to demand unbiased treatment, regardless of their size or weight,” Sally Greenberg, CEO of the National Consumers League, said in a news release.

    Developed in collaboration with leading obesity specialists and backed by nearly 40 national obesity and chronic disease organizations, the Obesity Bill of Rights establishes eight fundamental rights. These rights are designed to ensure that individuals with obesity undergo screening, diagnosis, counseling, and treatment according to medical guidelines, eradicating pervasive weight bias and ageism within the healthcare system.

    The staggering statistics surrounding obesity underscore the critical need for this initiative. Presently, only 30 million out of an estimated 108 million adults living with obesity have been diagnosed, and a mere 2% of those eligible for anti-obesity medications have received these treatments. Officials noted in a news release that the consequences of untreated obesity include worsening outcomes for over 230 obesity-related chronic diseases, approximately 400,000 premature deaths annually, and an estimated $1.72 trillion in direct and indirect costs to the U.S. economy.

    “These rights collectively ensure that adults with obesity have reliable, accurate information about their disease, respectful and nondiscriminatory care from medical professionals, and insurance that provides access to all treatments deemed appropriate by their health providers,” stated Ramsey Alwin, NCOA President and CEO.
    NCL and NCOA have started the Right2ObesityCare grassroots movement to drive the radical change that the Obesity Bill of Rights envisions. Officials said the movement aims to engage individuals with obesity, caregivers, health professionals, community leaders, employers, and a network of obesity and chronic disease organizations to foster the adoption of the Obesity Bill of Rights in clinical settings.

    The online hub, www.right2obesitycare.org, will serve as the epicenter for mobilizing stakeholders, focusing on national and state policy efforts. Right2ObesityCare will develop national “obesity goals” for fully implementing the Obesity Bill of Rights by December 31, 2029. Plans include regional town halls, workshops, advocacy forums, and meetings with federal and state legislators and regulators.

    Meanwhile, the Obesity Bill of Rights has garnered initial endorsements from 36 prominent organizations, including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Nurses Association, and the Obesity Action Coalition. The coalition’s efforts have also received support from influential policymakers such as Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) and Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI), who are championing the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) to expand access to obesity treatments.

    “Obesity is a chronic condition – not a personal or moral failing,” Moore asserted. “We need to ensure our health care system treats it as a disease, so that Americans with obesity can access holistic, high-quality care that meets the full spectrum of their needs. I am proud to be a co-lead of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act, which puts us on a path toward effectively treating obesity, helping create healthier outcomes for Americans and supporting enhanced quality of life for Medicare beneficiaries who need comprehensive care.”

  • Newswire : Trump repeatedly says ‘The Blacks’ in shameless exploitation of legal woes to woo African American voters

    By Stacy M. Brown,
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

    In a brazen display of political manipulation, former President Donald Trump took to the stage at the Black Conservative Federation Gala in South Carolina, using racially charged rhetoric and shamelessly attempting to forge a connection between his multiple criminal indictments and the historical struggles of Black Americans.
    The twice-impeached and four-times indicted former president is facing 91 felony counts, including racketeering and conspiracy to obstruct justice. A New York jury determined that he should pay nearly $90 million for sexually assaulting a journalist. A judge has ordered him to pay about a half-billion in penalties for committing massive business fraud. Yet Trump boasted about his legal battles, suggesting that the Black community supports him because they identify with the discrimination he claims to face.
    “I got indicted a second time, a third time, and a fourth time and a lot of people said that that’s why the Black people like me because they have been hurt so badly and discriminated against,” Trump declared callously, drawing applause from the audience.
    Attempting to equate his privileged legal battles with the systemic oppression endured by Black Americans throughout history, Trump asserted, “I think that’s why the Black people are so much on my side now because they see what’s happening to me happens to them. Does that make sense?”
    Throughout the evening, Trump continued his disturbing narrative, pointing to his mugshot from the Fulton County election interference case as a symbol embraced by the Black population. “My mug shot; we’ve all seen the mug shot. And you know who embraced it more than anybody else: the Black population. It’s incredible,” he remarked, exploiting the image for political gain and suggesting that African Americans are particularly familiar with mugshots.
    In a tasteless attempt at humor, Trump made racially insensitive comments about the brightness of the lights on stage, stating, “These lights are so bright in my eyes that I can’t see too many people out there. But I can only see the Black ones. I can’t see any white ones. You see, that’s how far I’ve come. That’s how far I’ve come.” The remarks played into racial stereotypes, leaving some on stage uncomfortably laughing.
    Trump’s calculated appearance included Black political allies, such as Reps. Byron Donalds and Wesley Hunt, as well as former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, all of whom are Black but have little to no ties to fellow African Americans. The event has ignited widespread condemnation for its blatant attempt to exploit racial tensions and manipulate the struggles of Black Americans for political gain.
    The former president’s shameless tactics at the gala underscored a troubling trend of divisive rhetoric and opportunistic exploitation, raising questions about the ethical boundaries of political discourse and the extent to which leaders are willing to go to secure support within specific communities.
    “There’s just so much controversy,” Ebony McBeth, a Columbia resident and transportation worker, told the Associated Press. “I would go for Biden just because Trump has his own agenda.”
    Isaac Williams Sr., a retired cook from Columbia and a lifelong Democrat, said he disliked both parties but found Trump to “have mobster tendencies. He’s only out for himself.”

  • Newswire : Alabama’s Supreme Court ruled frozen embryos are ‘children’. Touching off national controversy

    From Reuters, BBC and wire reports

    The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that frozen embryos created and stored for in vitro fertilization (IVF) are children under a state law allowing parents to sue for wrongful death of their minor children. The ruling revived three families’ lawsuits accusing a Mobile, Alabama fertility clinic, Center for Reproductive Medicine, and the hospital where it is located, Mobile Infirmary, of failing to properly safeguard frozen embryos, resulting in their destruction.

    The 8-1 majority of the court found that it was a long-established precedent that “unborn children” are “children” for the purpose of the 1872 wrongful death law at issue in the case. It said that any doubt about that was removed by a 2018 amendment to the state’s constitution, which declared that it was “the public policy of this state to recognize and support the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children.”

    The court, whose members are all elected Republicans or appointed by a Republican governor, further found that there was no “unwritten exception” for frozen embryos outside of a woman’s uterus. Chief Justice Tom Parker drew widespread attention for his overtly religious concurring opinion, in which he wrote that the state constitution includes the “theologically based view” that “human life cannot be wrongfully destroyed without incurring the wrath of a holy God.”

    It is not yet clear, but IVF providers are very concerned about the implications of the ruling. IVF treatment typically involves the creation of multiple embryos in order to maximize the chance of a successful pregnancy, leaving some unused. At least three providers – the defendant in the case, the University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System and Alabama Fertility – have said they are pausing IVF treatments, citing potential civil and criminal liability in the wake of the decision.

    The ruling left open the question of whether destroying a frozen embryo could result in criminal homicide charges. It also left it to the legislature to determine whether and how IVF could continue in the state.

    When the US Supreme Court struck down a nationwide right to abortion in 2022, in the Dobbs decision, it opened the door for states to make their own laws on the issue.

    Since the decision, Democratic-controlled states have expanded access while Republican-controlled states have restricted it. Alabama already has a total ban on abortion, at all stages of pregnancy.

    It is unclear how the Alabama court decision will affect other states. It has opened a debate between “Pro-Life, anti-Abortion forces” and “Pro-Women’s Right to Choose forces”. The Anti-abortion forces support the concept that “life begins at conception” and all abortion is “baby killing” so they support the court decision which calls into question the IVF process.

    The Biden White House called the Alabama ruling “exactly the type of chaos that we expected when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade and paved the way for politicians to dictate some of the most personal decisions families can make”.
    Some Republican politicians who support and have used IVF themselves are caught in the middle of this debate, which is a consequence of the Supreme Court’s decision on abortion. This issue will be a major factor in the national elections in November and may persuade many women to come out to the polls, to assert their rights to control their bodies and healthcare.

  • Tens of Thousands Expected to Attend The 2024 Bridge Crossing Jubilee: The Jubilee has Something for Everyone!

     

    The Bridge Crossing Commemoration and Jubilee’s 2024 Theme is Return to the Bridge: Democracy and the Vote are at Stake. In 2023, President Joe Biden was a special guest at the Bridge Crossing Commemoration in Selma, addressing the thousands of attendees at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, prior to the annual bridge crossing. The previous year, Vice President Kamala Harris was the special guest. According to Jubilee organizers, plans are still in the works to attract noteworthy presenters to address the theme in these critical times in the nation when Democracy and voting rights are at stake.
    The Annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee features dozens and dozens of events beginning on Monday, February 26th and running through Sunday, March 3rd. There is something for everyone at this year’s Jubilee! The working kickoff of the Jubilee are Kingian Nonviolence Seminars at the Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth & Reconciliation led by Civil Rights Legend Dr. Bernard Lafayette. These seminars are open to the public and run from Monday, February 26th, through Thursday, March 1st, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day.
    The ceremonial kickoff of the Jubilee is the Old Fashioned Mass Meeting at Tabernacle Baptist Church on Thursday, February 29th, at 7:00 p.m. Dr. David Peoples, President of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, is the keynote speaker at the Mass Meeting at Tabernacle, the site of the original Mass Meetings. Dr. Peoples will also be participating with other ministers at the Ministers of Justice Roundtable earlier that day at Tabernacle at 1:00 p.m. The Voting Rights History Bowl takes place at Tipton Middle School from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. that same day.
    There will be Education Summits on Thursday, March 1st, and on Friday, March 2nd, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day at Wallace Community College Selma. These and most other events are also free to the public. The Mock Trial at the Dallas County Courthouse, an annual favorite for many, is Friday, March 2nd, from 4:00 to 6;00 p.m. Each year the public participates on juries.
    The Original Foot Soldiers share their stories at the Annual Foot Soldier Breakfast on Saturday, March 2nd. at 8:00 a.m. at Selma High School. This is a truly special event with living history being shared and the public encouraged to attend. This year’s Freedom Flame Awards take place later that day at 7:00 p.m. at Selma High School. One of the award recipients is one of “The Tennessee Three,” Tennessee State Representative Gloria Johnson.
    The Martin & Coretta King Unity Breakfast kicks off the events of Bloody Sunday on March 3rd. The Unity Breakfast is from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. at Wallace Community College Selma. There will be numerous national Civil Rights Speakers. Those receiving Unity Awards this year include four of the original Freedom Singers and Maria Diarra Keita of Mali, West Africa as well as Hosea Williams, whose daughter will be accepting the award for him posthumously. More information will be released as it develops.

  • Newswire: U.S. forgives nearly $137 Billion of student loans – teachers, social workers, public servants among those to benefit

    By Charlene Crowell

    (TriceEdneyWire.com) – Teachers, social workers, and other public servants are among those expected to benefit from recent Biden Administration efforts to expand eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.
    Collectively, these borrowers will be relieved of $4.9 billion debt in return for their service to communities that earned them forgiveness under Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and Income-Driven Repayment (IDR).
    “The Biden-Harris Administration has worked relentlessly to fix our country’s broken student loan system and address the needless hurdles and administrative inaccuracies that, in the past, kept borrowers from getting the student debt forgiveness they deserved,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.
    James Kvaal, U.S. Under Secretary of Education added, “The Biden-Harris Administration is not going to stop until we’ve helped all of those harmed by the broken student loan system.”
    Announced by the federal Department of Education  in January, this latest expansion boosts the Biden Administration’ s total student loan forgiveness to $136.6 billion for more than 3.7 million borrowers. Here’s how this unprecedented loan relief was accomplished:
    $56.7 billion for 793,400 borrowers enrolled in PSLF since October 2021. Prior to the Biden-Harris Administration’s fixes to PSLF, only about 7,000 borrowers had ever received forgiveness;
    $45.7 billion in IDR relief for 930,500 borrowers;
    $11.7 billion for almost 513,000 borrowers with a total and permanent disability; and
    $22.5 billion for more than 1.3 million borrowers who were cheated by their schools, saw their institutions precipitously close, or are covered by related court settlements.
    In late 2023, the Federal Reserve determined that although most consumers pay $400 or less in monthly loan payments, 19 percent of borrowers pay far more. As reported by Motley Fool, payments between $500 and $999 are made by 14 percent of borrowers, while payments of $1,000 or more are paid by five percent of borrowers.
    “Outstanding student loan debt exceeds outstanding auto loan debt and credit card debt,” recently noted Rohit Chopra, Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). “If student loan borrowers are unable to successfully enroll in payment plans or obtain accurate information about their accounts, this can have a domino effect on the rest of their financial lives.”
    In December 2023, CFPB issued a new report entitled, Making Ends Meet in 2023. Two findings in this report highlight the heavy and disproportionate financial effects for borrowers of color:
    “Consumers who currently have student debt were 10 percentage points more likely to have difficulty paying bills than consumers who had student debt at some point in the last 10 years but no longer do and consumers who have not had student debt for at least 10 years if ever.”
    “Nearly 58 percent of Black consumers and 54 percent of Hispanic households could not cover expenses for more than a month in February 2023,” continued the CFPB report, “while this was the case for only 34 percent of non-Hispanic white households and 32 percent of households of another race. These differences among groups were largely unchanged since 2022.”
    Secretary Cardona said the Education Department’s Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan will deliver even greater debt relief and help put more borrowers on a faster track to loan forgiveness. Borrowers who originally took out $12,000 or less for college and are enrolled in the SAVE Plan will see forgiveness after as few as 10 years of payments. Those who are enrolled in SAVE and are eligible for early forgiveness will have their debts automatically cancelled starting next month, months ahead of schedule, with no action needed.
    The Department and its partners are reaching out to encourage eligible but unenrolled borrowers to sign up for SAVE. Borrowers can find additional resources at StudentAid.gov and sign up for the SAVE plan at StudentAid.gov/save.
    Charlene Crowell is a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org.

  • Newswire : Trump and associates ordered to pay $354 Million in damages in fraud trial

    New York AG, Leticia James


    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent


    When she assumed the role of New York Attorney General, Letitia James made little bones about her desire to take down Donald Trump for what she said was the massive business fraud his organization had committed in the Empire State.  She also took aim at his politics, filing numerous lawsuits related to immigration and environmental policies during Trump’s White House tenure. James also inherited an ongoing state lawsuit against Trump’s charitable foundation, initiated before her term, successfully steering it towards a settlement that included a substantial $2 million fine.
    Demonstrating her commitment, she filed another civil lawsuit against Trump the following year, accusing his company of deceiving banks, insurers, and others by artificially inflating the value of assets and his net worth on financial documents. In a clever twist, when announcing the case against Trump, James quipped, “It’s the art of the steal,” playing on the title of Trump’s book, “The Art of the Deal.”
    On Friday, Feb. 16, James nailed the twice-impeached and four-times indicted former president as Judge Arthur Engoron ruled in a civil business fraud trial against the MAGA leader, his sons, business associates, and the Trump Organization, ordering him to pay over $354 million in damages. Engoron also slapped Trump and his company with temporary restrictions on conducting business in New York.
    The verdict comes after a prolonged trial where James sought $370 million, alleging “repeated and persistent fraud,” including the falsification of business records and financial statements. And, in a clear-cut victory for James, Engoron dismissed attempts by Trump to shift blame to accountants. “The buck for being truthful in the supporting data valuations stopped with the Trump Organization, not the accountants,” the judge determined.
    The judgment imposes a three-year ban on Trump from serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation, along with the appointment of an independent monitor and a directive to install an independent director of compliance for the Trump Organization.
    The judge highlighted Trump’s lack of remorse, stating it “borders on pathological” and necessitates external oversight. This marks the second financial setback for Trump this year, following an $83.3 million defamation verdict he was ordered to pay for sexually assaulting a journalist. He also faces four criminal trials later this year, with the first scheduled for March 25 in New York State Court. By the time the November election arrives, Trump could also be a convicted felon.
    During the New York civil trial, Trump and his executives, including his sons attempted to downplay the significance of exaggerated financial statements. Examples of fraud included inflating property values, such as at Trump Tower and Mar-a-Lago, by significant amounts. Trump, who claimed his innocence, asserted that the case was politically motivated.
    The judgment cancels Trump’s business certificates in New York, a decision he is appealing. Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, naturally denounced the ruling as a “manifest injustice” and expressed confidence in overturning the verdict through the Appellate Division.
    Los Angeles-based trial attorney V. James DeSimone, of V. James DeSimone Law, added that Trump found out exactly how powerful New York’s civil fraud law is. DeSimone opined that Engeron’s detailed opinion provides ample basis for the $354 million in penalties he assessed against the Republican presidential frontrunner and his family. “When it comes to anything involving Donald Trump’s court cases, it’s best to figure that he’ll appeal any ruling that finds him in the wrong, and he’ll appeal until the end of time, or he runs out of lawyers. At some point, the findings of fraud against a presidential candidate should matter to the voting public.”