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Supreme Court strikes down Biden’s plan to wipe away $400 billion in student loan debt

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:55 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A sharply divided Supreme Court ruled Friday that the Biden administration overstepped its authority in trying to cancel or reduce student loans for millions of Americans.The 6-3 decision, with conservative justices in the majority, effectively killed the $400 billion plan, announced by President Joe Biden last year, and left borrowers on the hook for repayments that are expected to resume by late summer.The court held that the administration needs Congress’ endorsement before undertaking so costly a program. The majority rejected arguments that a bipartisan 2003 law dealing with student loans, known as the HEROES Act, gave Biden the power he claimed.“Six States sued, arguing that the HEROES Act does not authorize the loan cancellation plan. We agree,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court.Justice Elena Kagan wrote in a dissent, joined by the court’s two other liberals, that the majority of the court “overrides the combined judgment of the Legislative and ...

Colorado wedding website designer can refuse gay customers, U.S. Supreme Court rules

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:55 GMT

The First Amendment allows a Colorado graphic designer to refuse to make wedding websites for same-sex couples, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday in a decision that could have a sweeping nationwide impact.The high court ruled for Littleton graphic artist Lorie Smith, who said her Christian faith prevents her from creating wedding websites for same-sex couples. Smith, who runs the business 303 Creative, wanted to offer wedding websites solely for straight couples.She challenged Colorado’s public accommodation law, which says that if she offers wedding websites to the public, she must provide them to all customers. Businesses that violate the law can be fined, among other penalties. Most states have such laws.Justice Neil Gorsuch authored the justices’ 6-3 decision, which found that Smith’s free speech rights mean Colorado cannot force Smith to say or create messages that she does not believe.“The First Amendment prohibits Colorado from forcing a website desi...

Oscar- and Tony-winning actor Alan Arkin dies at 89

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:55 GMT

Actor Alan Arkin has died. The Academy Award- and Tony Award-winning actor passed away at his home in Carlsbad, California, on June 29, according to Variety. He was 89 years old. His sons Adam, Matthew and Anthony confirmed his death to People and issued a statement that read: "Our father was a uniquely talented force of nature, both as an artist and a man. A loving husband, father, grand and great grandfather, he was adored and will be deeply missed."Arkin's career spanned decades.He began his career as a stage performer becoming a part of the Second City comedy group in Chicago before heading to Broadway for "From Second City" in 1961. In 1963, he earned a Tony for starring in "Enter Laughing."Over the next five decades, Arkin appeared in over 100 movies and films. He was nominated for an Oscar for his role in 1968's "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter." He also starred in "Argo," "Edward Scissorhands" and "Glengarry Glen Ross."His role in 2006's indie comedy "Little Miss Sunshine," ear...

Supreme Court blocks Biden’s student loan forgiveness program

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:55 GMT

(CNN) — In a stinging defeat for President Joe Biden, the Supreme Court blocked the administration’s student loan forgiveness plan Friday, rejecting a program aimed at delivering up to $20,000 of relief to millions of borrowers struggling with outstanding debt. The decision was 6-3 with Chief Justice John Roberts writing for the conservative supermajority.Republican-led states and conservatives challenging the program say it amounts to an unlawful attempt to erase an estimated $430 billion of federal student loan debt under the guise of the pandemic. Roberts said the Biden administration and Secretary of Education rewrote the law.“The Secretary’s comprehensive debt cancellation plan cannot fairly be called a waiver – it not only nullifies existing provisions, but augments and expands them dramatically,” Roberts wrote. “However broad the meaning of ‘waive or modify,’ that language cannot authorize the kind of exhaustive rewriting ...

Supreme Court strikes down President Biden’s student loan forgiveness program

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:55 GMT

The Supreme Court on Friday struck down the Biden Administration’s student loan forgiveness program, one that would have provided up to $20,000 of debt relief for an estimated 40 million Americans.For many students, the decision is a crushing blow, eliminating federal student loan debt for roughly 40% of student loan borrowers.“Debt is a really hard thing to overcome,” said Julien Elliot, a 21-year-old at San Jose State University. “I’ve even seen my mom struggle with it: she just finished paying off her student loan debt, and she’s 55 years old.”The decision came after two suits were brought to the Supreme Court, one from a group of Republican states that challenged the administration’s authority to cancel student debt, and the other from two students who felt they wouldn’t get enough out of the existing program. Since the Biden administration announced the debt relief plan last August, the government has approved 16 million applications fo...

Pac-12 recruiting: Washington’s big finish (to June), Stanford and USC stay hot and dead period arrives

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:55 GMT

The Hotline is delighted to provide Pac-12 fans with a weekly dive into the recruiting process through the eyes and ears of Brandon Huffman, the Seattle-based national recruiting editor for 247Sports.The following report was provided to the Hotline on June 29 …A quick spin around the conference, starting in the upper left corner …What a Week for WashingtonThe day spring became summer, Washington had one commitment for the 2023-24 recruiting cycle.A week later?The Huskies are up to 11 commitments.They’ve added a slew of four-star prospects (in the 247 Sports rankings), starting with receiver Jason Robinson from Long Beach and athlete Peyton Waters from up the road a bit in Van Nuys.Peoria (Arizona) edge rusher Noah Carter is a four-star recruit, as well, with the Huskies hoping he brings the same kind of impact another Arizona edge rusher, Bralen Trice, has for UW.After parting ways with quarterback commit EJ Caminong, the Huskies landed a verbal pledge from Rancho Cucamonga (C...

California home insurance: What’s more important, coverage or cost?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:55 GMT

California’s home insurance challenges are a complex web of risk management, construction costs, pricing algorithms, climate forecasts and regulatory minutia.Recently, State Farm and Allstate — two major home insurers in California – chose to stop writing new property policies, citing rising costs. Their moves raise fears of a potential statewide insurance shortage.This begs the question: What are fair premiums and how will they offer homeowners decent protection while providing insurers a fair profit?Now, insurance pricing logic makes the average human’s head hurt. It requires calculating the risks of everything from major catastrophes to modest calamities at just one home. The variables run from climate to construction to crime.Add that up and then make a big bet: How much money for how much protection?Let my trusty spreadsheet try to explain this odd dynamic, using some awfully basic math to highlight the tussle between a property owner and an insurer.Proper premiumsWe all know t...

In a gay rights defeat, Supreme Court rules for Christian designer who objects to making gay couples’ wedding websites

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:55 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a gay rights defeat, Supreme Court rules for Christian designer who objects to making gay couples’ wedding websites.

Silicon Valley school sites serve as convenient places to help feed families

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:55 GMT

Editor’s note: This story is part of the annual Mosaic Journalism Workshop for Bay Area high school students, a two-week intensive course in journalism. Students in the program report and photograph stories under the guidance of professional journalists.Ali Preston had been with HP Inc., formerly Hewlett Packard, for 10 years and her husband had an automotive job for 30 years when the COVID pandemic hit in 2020. Amid the waves of layoffs, they both lost their jobs.“I never thought I’d be going to a food bank,” Preston said after picking up produce, dried goods and chicken at Branham High School in San Jose. “We were always the ones who donated.”As the pandemic affected families and its aftermath continues to cause widespread food insecurity, schools have increasingly provided directly to families or invited outside food groups onto campus. Preston’s food came from Second Harvest of Silicon Valley.Based on enrollment data from the 2019-20 school year, 3.9 million students in Ca...

The Supreme Court rules for a designer who doesn't want to make wedding websites for gay couples

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:55 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a defeat for gay rights, the Supreme Court's conservative majority ruled Friday that a Christian graphic artist who wants to design wedding websites can refuse to work with same-sex couples. The court ruled 6-3 for designer Lorie Smith despite a Colorado law that bars discrimination based on sexual orientation, race, gender and other characteristics. Smith had argued that the law violates her free speech rights.Smith's opponents warned that a win for her would allow a range of businesses to discriminate, refusing to serve Black, Jewish or Muslim customers, interracial or interfaith couples or immigrants. But Smith and her supporters had said that a ruling against her would force artists — from painters and photographers to writers and musicians — to do work that is against their beliefs. Smith’s lawyer, Kristen Waggoner, said the Supreme Court was right to reaffirm that the government cannot compel people to say things they do not believe.“Disagreement isn’t dis...