How to keep your student loan payment at $0
President Biden has extended the interest-free payment pause for most federal student loan borrowers through Sept. 30. But after that break ends, paying $0 may still be a necessity for some borrowers. You may be able to qualify for a $0 monthly payment at that point by enrolling in an income-driven repayment plan or suspending payments altogether via deferment or forbearance. An income-driven plan is usually the best choice because of benefits like potential loan forgiveness, but compare all your options if you’ll need longer-term relief. While you can’t switch repayment plans while payments are paused, you can figure out a strategy and prepare now.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Police say an avalanche killed four skiers and injured four others in a popular recreation area, making it one of the deadliest avalanches in Utah history. The Unified Police Department told local media that it was alerted to the avalanche about 11:40 a.m. Saturday after receiving a faint distress call from an avalanche beacon in Millcreek Canyon. The department says all eight skiers had avalanche beacons. The survivors were able to dig themselves out of the snow and ice, but their medical conditions are unknown at this time. The survivors were also able to locate and dig out the other four, but they had already died.
By David Emory StooksburyUniversity ofGeorgiaModerate agricultural drought now covers most of the state asmild agricultural drought spreads into all of north Georgia. Onlysoutheast Georgia now has near-normal soil moisture conditionsfor mid-to-late June.Mild to moderate agricultural drought generally exists north andwest of a line from Brooks to Coffee to Toombs to Lincolncounties.Moderate agricultural drought exists north and west of a linefrom Thomas to Crisp to Toombs to Washington to Elbert countiesand south of a line from Floyd to Lumpkin to Stephens counties.In the mild agricultural drought regions, soil moisture loss overthe past 30 days has been between 4 and 5 inches. In the moderateagricultural drought regions, 30-day soil moisture loss has beenbetween 5 and 7 inches.Drying outContinued high water use by plants, high evaporation rates andlittle rain have caused soils to dry very quickly across thestate. In regions not getting rain, soil moisture loss over thepast seven days has been between 1.3 and 1.5 inches.While tropical storm Alberto brought beneficial rains to extremesouth central, southeast and coastal Georgia, most of rest of thestate had little if any rainfall over the past week.During the past 30 days, the following University of Georgiaautomated weather stations have recorded less than 1 inch ofrain: Alpharetta, Bledsoe Experiment Farm, Byromville, Byron,Pine Mountain, Cordele, Covington, Dallas, Dawson, Duluth,Dunwoody, Eatonton, Fort Valley, Griffin, Jeffersonville, Sasserand Watkinsville.U.S. Geological Survey stream gauges are showing low flows acrossthe entire state. Many streams are near the 10th percentile forthe date.At the 10th percentile, we expect the stream flow to be greaterthan the current value in 90 years out of 100 for the currentdate.Groundwater, tooGroundwater levels are below normal statewide and are dropping.Water releases combined with below-normal inflows have led thestate’s major reservoirs to drop below normal summer pool overthe past several weeks. Farm ponds are showing the impacts of thedry, hot weather.The normal recharge season for streams, groundwater andreservoirs is over. Stream, groundwater and reservoir levels areexpected to keep dropping through summer into fall if the statecontinues to have dry or normal weather.The most likely source of widespread drought relief this summerand fall will come from the tropics. If Georgia doesn’t have anymore tropical activity this summer, then the summer will probablybe hot and dry.Comprehensive drought information, including current statewideoutdoor watering use schedules, may be found at www.georgiadrought.org.Real-time weather and climate conditions, including soil moisturebalance, may be found at www.georgiaweather.net.(David Emory Stooksbury is the state climatologist and aprofessor of engineering and atmospheric sciences in theUniversity of Georgia College of Agricultural and EnvironmentalSciences.)
Sign up for our COVID-19 newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest coronavirus news throughout New York A person was shot and another was pistol-whipped during a recent Gordon Heights home invasion, one of two such cases two days apart that Suffolk County police are investigating, authorities said.Two men armed with handguns entered a home on Dunton Avenue, hit a man in the head with a gun and shot another victim in the leg before the assailants stole an Xbox gaming console at 2:10 a.m. Saturday, June 20, police said.Then at 1:20 a.m. Monday, June 22, two men armed with a gun broke the front glass door of an East Elm Street home in Central Islip and stole money and a cell phone, police said.The victims in the first case were treated at a local hospital. The victims in the second case were not harmed.There were neither any arrests made nor descriptions of the suspects available in either case, police said.Detectives are continuing the investigations.
Non-interest income can keep a credit union afloat in times of economic decline. Credit unions must always be looking for ways to drive non-interest revenue to help maintain positive expense-to-income ratios. In order to drive this income forward CUs should better product offerings, and improving your portfolio of debit card services can help. Offering advanced card maintenance options for member’s debit and credit cards is one way to do this. Here are 3 secrets to boost non-interest income specifically through debit cards:1. Overdraft Privilege. Provide members with flexibility by offering overdraft protection. This allows an account to go negative and saves members an embarrassing realization while shopping for groceries. Make members aware that each transaction taking the account negative merits an overdraft fee. Additionally, train MSRs to educate members on how to effectively use this privilege. Rather than swiping their card at three different stores and racking up $60 dollars in fees, withdraw the extra money needed to cover multiple costs in cash and only receive one fee. If members are properly educated, this privilege will keep them loyal to your brand while still generating non-interest income for your credit union. Also, be forgiving. Waiving fees for accidental use of the overdraft privilege can be a great time to build member loyalty. continue reading » 6SHARESShareShareSharePrintMailGooglePinterestDiggRedditStumbleuponDeliciousBufferTumblr
Manchester City forward Sterling has emerged as one of football’s most prominent voices in the fight against racism. Sterling was last week credited by the FA’s Paul Elliot for helping provide impetus to last week’s launch of the FA Leadership Diversity Code after describing a lack of black representation at the upper echelons of the game as an injustice in a Newsnight interview in June.Speaking in the first episode of the FA’s Black, England and Proud series, made in partnership with Refresh Productions and Facebook, Rashford says Sterling’s use of his platform to try and affect change made him realise what he could achieve.Asked who his football inspirations are, Rashford said: “The most recent one was probably Raheem when he started speaking about the issues that he has faced.- Advertisement – “For me, Raheem showed me if you’re not happy about something say it and make people aware of it. It’s not a crime to tell people what you think, it’s probably the biggest thing that sparked change for me.”This England team stand togetherRashford’s admiration for Sterling – despite the fact they play for rival Manchester clubs – underlines the togetherness that exists within an England team that last month beat Belgium.He points to England’s 6-0 win over Bulgaria last year – where the game had to be halted twice due to racist chanting only for England to decide among themselves to finish the game – as a perfect illustration of the unity that exists within the squad.- Advertisement – Marcus Rashford says England team-mate Raheem Sterling has been huge source of inspiration for his off-field activities that have recently seen his awarded an MBE.Rashford was honoured last month after successfully lobbying the Government into a U-turn over its free school meals policy during lockdown, ensuring children in need would receive meals across the summer.- Advertisement – “Since Gareth has come in we have done a lot of work off the pitch, with people coming from different communities – these are the best players in England but everyone is from different places,” Rashford said. “He found a way to bring us all together but it was natural, it wasn’t forced and no-one felt forced to speak about things they don’t want to. And when situations have occurred we have managed to just deal with it but we didn’t deal with it as individuals.“I know some players in the past I have spoken to on racist issues they [have had to] deal with it themselves. The way that we have dealt with situations in recent times, it’s been amazing, literally everyone together.“The game in Bulgaria [the racist abuse] was literally happening from the beginning of the game. I think one of the main reasons why he had the strength to carry on and just ignore it and play our football was because of that bond.” 
Image:England players talk amongst themselves during a temporary break in play following racist chanting from a section of the home support away at Bulgaria last year – Advertisement –
Governor Wolf, Senator Casey Demand Answers on Unaccompanied Migrant Children Housed in Pennsylvania Human Services, National Issues, Press Release, Public Health, Public Safety Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf today joined U.S. Senator Bob Casey in a joint letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar requesting answers to questions regarding the number of migrant children separated from their families at the southern border who are now housed in Pennsylvania.The questions were first posed at a recent meeting between Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller and the Acting Regional Administrator for the Administration for Children and Families. The meeting was an effort to seek information on how the Trump administration’s actions separating children from their families impacts Pennsylvania.“Our main priority as statewide officials is ensuring the safety and well-being of all Pennsylvanians, including those residing in our great commonwealth even for a short period of time,” according to the letter. “We are very concerned about vulnerable children, for whom the trauma of being separated from their families will have a short and long-term adverse impact on their mental health and well-being. Accordingly, we reiterate our strong opposition to the practice of detaining families who seek asylum in the United States, especially the practice of separating children from their parents.”Pennsylvania has statutory oversight of Child Residential and Day Treatment Facilities and oversees the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors’ Program (URMP), which is administered through contracts at the local level and provides services for youth, including custodial foster care and group home placement, case management services, supervised semi-independent living, medical, and cash assistance.Gov. Wolf and Sen. Casey asked specific questions in the letter, including:How many unaccompanied immigrant minors are currently residing in Pennsylvania?Where are these children currently residing?In addition, please provide a list of all Office of Refugee Resettlement contracted facilities with unaccompanied children (UACs) in Pennsylvania, as well as a description of the vetting and oversight conducted by your department over these facilities.Does the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have plans, both short and long-term, for reuniting these unaccompanied children with their families? If so, what is the specific timeline for reunification?Does HHS know precisely where the parents or guardians of unaccompanied children are currently located?Are there details available for Pennsylvania officials with regard to how the safety and well-being of these children will be protected in the interim?The letter concludes by advising the administration that both Gov. Wolf and Sen. Casey “remain very concerned that the federal government’s recent actions separating children from their parents will cause irreparable harm in the lives of a very vulnerable population.”You may read the letter below, view it as a PDF or see it on Scribd.Governor Wolf and U.S. Senator Casey joint letter to U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Secretary AzarJuly 3, 2018Mr. Alex Azar, SecretaryU.S. Department of Health and Human Services330 C St. SWWashington, DC 20416Dear Secretary Azar:We write to you today seeking information on how the administration’s actions of separating children from their families impact Pennsylvania. Our main priority as statewide officials is ensuring the safety and well-being of all Pennsylvanians, including those residing in our great Commonwealth even for a short period of time. We are very concerned about vulnerable children, for whom the trauma of being separated from their families will have a short and long-term adverse impact on their mental health and well-being. Accordingly, we reiterate our strong opposition to the practice of detaining families who seek asylum in the United States, especially the practice of separating children from their parents.Like other states, Pennsylvania has a statutory responsibility for the oversight of Child Residential and Day Treatment Facilities. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) takes great pride in its commitment to serving children through a strong licensing program, which is the foundation for ensuring the health, safety, and general well-being of the children who reside in these facilities. In addition, DHS’ Unaccompanied Refugee Minors’ Program (URMP), which is administered through contracts at the local level, provides services for youth, including custodial foster care and group home placement, case management services, supervised semi-independent living, and medical and cash assistance.Knowing that thousands of children have been separated from their parents by the Administration in just the last few months, we would like to ensure that any unaccompanied minor residing in Pennsylvania is receiving the care required under state law. To that end, we write to reiterate several questions posed by Pennsylvania’s DHS to the Acting Regional Administrator for the Administration for Children and Families on June 26, 2018. Specifically, we seek detailed responses to the following questions:How many unaccompanied immigrant minors are currently residing in Pennsylvania?Where are these children currently residing?In addition, please provide a list of all Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) contracted facilities with UACs in Pennsylvania, as well as a description of the vetting and oversight conducted by your department over these facilities.Does the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have plans, both short and long-term, for reuniting these unaccompanied children with their families? If so, what is the specific timeline for reunification?Does HHS know precisely where the parents or guardians of unaccompanied children are currently located?Are there details available for Pennsylvania officials with regard to how the safety and well-being of these children will be protected in the interim?We remain very concerned that the federal government’s recent actions of separating children from their parents will cause irreparable harm in the lives of a very vulnerable population. We ask that you provide information about the scope of this issue in Pennsylvania so that we can carry out our responsibilities as elected officials. We look forward to your response.Sincerely,TOM WOLF, GovernorROBERT P. CASEY, JR, United States Senator 7.03.2018 – Gov. Wolf and Sen. Casey Letter to Sec. Azar by Governor Tom Wolf on Scribd July 03, 2018
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On four major measures of housing affordability, Brisbane is more affordable today than it was in 2011, latest research has found.BRISBANE homes are more affordable now than five years ago, new research has found – the only east coast capital city to boast improvements across four measures of affordability.The CoreLogic Housing Affordability Report found that the cost of housing in Brisbane now made up a smaller proportion of household income than it did in 2011.It found that the median dwelling across Brisbane cost 5.7 times the median annual household income, compared to 5.9 times income five years ago.More from newsMould, age, not enough to stop 17 bidders fighting for this home3 hours agoBuyers ‘crazy’ not to take govt freebies, says 28-yr-old investor9 hours agoHousing affordability Report – December 2016 – CoreLogicA 20 per cent deposit on a median priced dwelling was about 114 per cent of annual household income (about $93,500) compared to 118 per cent previously, and annual loan repayments took up 30.3 per cent of income – not 40 per cent as it was in 2011.Rental properties were also more affordable, the report found, making up 25.4 per cent of annual household income compared to 26.4 per cent five year ago.It was an impressive result given “the past five years has seen national dwelling prices rise by 19 per cent”, according to CoreLogic. At the same time ANU research had found that household incomes had grown by just 9.2 per cent.Record low interest rates were a major factor in the result, but Brisbane showed improvements in other affordability measures that excluded the cost of debt, such as dwelling price to income ratio, and the proportion of household income required for a 20 per cent deposit.The CoreLogic report said government policies linked to housing supply and land releases were “known to have a profound impact on the cost of housing” as well as high transaction costs.“Stamp duty costs on the median priced dwelling are now more than $30,000 across both Sydney and Melbourne which is adding to the savings challenge for prospective buyers looking to participate in home ownership.”The national price to income ratio was 6.9 times (7.2 times for houses and 6.4 times for units).
Brisbane builder throws in a new Lamborghini Huracan LP 580 with this multimillion-dollar home. Photo: realestate.com.auThe housing market in the Queensland capital is set to hit a new level of luxury with the addition of an $8.8 million mansion that comes complete with a luxury car and free wine.The four-storey home at 15 Towers St, Ascot, built by Zephyr Industries, has five bedrooms, seven bathrooms and a seven-car garage — perfect for the buyer’s new bright-green Lamborghini Huracan LP 580.Zephyr Industries director Brayden Larkin said the design of the property was a culmination of ideas.“I had a few beers and got creative,” Mr Larkin said.MORE REAL ESTATE NEWSTroy Cassar-Daley’s ready to let goProperty ticks boxes for richest female CEOQueenslander and art collection up for grabsWhat would you trade for a luxury apartment and yacht? There are two pools on the 1047sqm block. Picture: realestate.com.auMr Larkin said the original 1920s Queenslander home had being given a new life with no expense spared.More from newsParks and wildlife the new lust-haves post coronavirus13 hours agoNoosa’s best beachfront penthouse is about to hit the market13 hours agoThe wine cellar and tasting room can be seen from the main living area. Picture:realestate.com.auThe house features a temperature controlled wine cellar (3000 bottles) with wine tasting room, and includes two barrels of custom wine made specifically for the home by Gerler Wines.An elevator, cinema, two pools, and a roof top terrace with private six-seater spa are part of the home’s luxe mix.MORE REAL ESTATE NEWS:Richlister takes huge early offer on homeDam, what a catchAuction yields $6m-plus in salesNGU Real Estate selling agent Emil Juresic described the home as a “masterpiece”.“After developing so many luxury homes, this is one of the best things Brayden has done,” Mr Juresic said.“Everything in this house is outstanding.”FOLLOW COURIER-MAIL REAL ESTATE ON FACEBOOK
Time taken: 12 monthsRenovation spend: $950,000Scheduled for auction 11am, Saturday, February 29. (Source: My Reno/Sunday Mail) Greater Brisbane looks set to be the biggest beneficiary of all that spending, accounting for around half the approvals – with $472.9m more in renovations now destined for the Greater Brisbane region as a result. The top renovation suburb in the state according to the approval figures was Paddington-Milton where $32.8m in renovation work was signed off by council. The surprise was Gympie – South ($32.73m) and Gympie – North ($31.179m) came in second and third highest for residential alterations and additions approvals, and areas outside Brisbane like Proserpine ($17.989m) and Noosa Hinterland also hit the top 10 ($17.425m). Brisbane suburbs made up the rest of the top 10 including Ashgrove ($21.669m), New Farm ($21m), Bardon ($19.6m), Coorparoo ($17.52m) and Ascot ($16.54m). Chris and Christal Fysentzou with children Andrea 10 and Sophia 8 at the home they have renovated for sale at 2 Danina St, Mansfield. Picture: Peter Wallis.Renovation spending has hit record levels – just the start of what’s going to be a multi-billion surge, according to experts – and what’s driving it is being felt on every street in the country.The surge is so strong that million-dollar renovation budgets are becoming par for the inner city, with latest six-month building approvals figures showing states like Queensland set to spend $2billion a year on major residential upgrades within the next few years. Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed Queensland councils had approved the highest number of alterations and additions to homes during the six months to the end of December.An astounding $926.78m in major residential renovations work was approved here, shattering the earlier half-year record set during the same period the previous year by over $80m.That spend was for major residential upgrades like making substantial changes that require approval from councils, such as adding major extensions to older houses. It does not include the funds being spent across the country by DIY (do it yourself) renovators who may be painting, replacing kitchens, knocking down internal walls or the like. Which would you rather – a crib or solid gold? History at the front, party at the back FOLLOW SOPHIE FOSTER ON TWITTER He said the driving force was mum and dad investors who were finicky about finishes and wanted to leave their mark on the city.“The people that aren’t cutting corners are benefiting at the other end when they go to sell their product,” he said. “The mum and dad developers who are cutting corners and squeezing in as many apartments as they can are the ones hurting at the other end. The ones who are really thinking about who the buyers are and giving them what they want are really benefiting in terms dollars and getting a following.” Million-dollar renovations: 30 Harris St, Hawthorne: Renovation time taken – 12 months; renovation spend – $950,000.Cashed up local investors were driving some of the work within the inner city, with the typical one doing “one a year” in areas like New Farm.Among the must haves for million-dollar renovations, Mr Kornel said, was creating functional floor plans, breakout zones, parents retreats, and open plan living.“There needs to be that line of sight from the pool to the kitchen, so when you’re entertaining or cooking or whatever, the parents can keep an eye on their children.”Among recently completed million-dollar renovation projects was 236 Harcourt Street, New Farm, a home that saw $1.2m sunk into renovations. It went under contract on Thursday, Mr Kornel confirmed, circa the $3m mark.“(The buyers) live in an apartment in New Farm. They enjoyed it while they were a couple but now that they are having a child, they want that house and land. We ran through (the home) and they bought it that (Thursday) afternoon.” Time taken: 7 months Renovation spend: $1.3m 236 Harcourt Street, New Farm Time taken: 10 monthsRenovation spend: $1.2m-plusUnder contract Thursday February 20, 2020 30 Harris St, Hawthorne Video Player is loading.Play VideoPlayNext playlist itemMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 1:49Loaded: 0%Stream Type LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time -1:49 Playback Rate1xChaptersChaptersDescriptionsdescriptions off, selectedCaptionscaptions settings, opens captions settings dialogcaptions off, selectedQuality Levels720p720pHD540p540p360p360p270p270pAutoA, selectedAudio Tracken (Main), selectedFullscreenThis is a modal window.Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.TextColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentBackgroundColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparentWindowColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaqueFont Size50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%Text Edge StyleNoneRaisedDepressedUniformDropshadowFont FamilyProportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall CapsReset restore all settings to the default valuesDoneClose Modal DialogEnd of dialog window.This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.Close Modal DialogThis is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.PlayMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 0:00Loaded: 0%Stream Type LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time -0:00 Playback Rate1xFullscreenCherie Barber’s top tips for renovating for resale01:49
Paddington – Milton $32.847mGympie – South $32.731mGympie – North $31.179mAshgrove $21.669mNew Farm $21mMore from newsParks and wildlife the new lust-haves post coronavirus10 hours agoNoosa’s best beachfront penthouse is about to hit the market10 hours agoBardon $19.6mProserpine $17.989mCoorparoo $17.52mNoosa Hinterland $17.425mAscot $16.54m (Source: ABS) The house auction that sparked a coffee war Million-dollar renovations: 236 Harcourt St, New Farm: Renovation time taken – ten months; renovation spend – $1.2million-plus.Ms Conisbee expected fresh records to come off renovation activity. “We’re not really seeing a big turnaround in listings so I think that (renovation trend) will continue and also house prices are rising in Brisbane so that’s another factor.”Real estate agent Ivo Kornel of Sixty Four Property said renovations within inner Brisbane had reached the point where it was a million-dollar proposition.“That’s minimum,” he told The Sunday Mail. “A million dollars now just gets thrown into the conversation as an absolutely bottom base figure. In actual fact, the renovation is costing sometimes more than the acquisition purchase price, especially if it’s of high quality. It’s not cheap.” 47 Wilden St, Paddington MORE: Brisbane is hammering home sales Property industry analyst, REA Group chief economist Nerida Conisbee, said renovation activity could be expected to continue to break records in Queensland and Brisbane over the next few years.“It doesn’t surprise me,” she said of the December surge. “Firstly We’ve had three interest rate cuts. Getting finance is a lot cheaper so people are able to borrow more money. The second issue is around the fact that there are fewer listings, so even if people want to upgrade into a new home, a lot haven’t been able to find one, so it becomes attractive to renovate the one they’re in. Also if you are looking for a bigger home, it may be better value to renovate your (current) home because of the cost of moving and selling.“Also confidence is high, people know if they pour money into their homes they will get it back.” TOP 10 QLD RENOVATOR SUBURBS (6mth to Dec): Chris and Christal Fysentzou have turned renovating into a full-time business. Picture: Peter Wallis.Among Brisbane families creating million dollar homes was Chris and Christal Fysentzou, who have four upgrades under their belt in total. They’ve turned that renovation bug into a full-time job via Zoubuild, with their latest project involving an older double-storey brick home at 2 Danina St that they turned into Palm Springs style living.On this one the retail cost alone was $320,000, Mrs Fysentzou said, with the building work completed over a six-month period.“We started at the end of August and finished at the end of January,” she said.“I am not surprised at the record renovation levels. Given the current market and the interest rate being so low, I think people finally have a bit more flexibility and comfort now. They are a bit more comfortable financially to do upgrades.” Million-dollar renovations: 47 Wilden Street, Paddington: Renovation time taken – seven months; renovation spend – $1.3million. ‘MILLION-DOLLAR’ RENO DREAMS: