Feds say they’ll forgive your student loan, but almost no one actually benefits
Student loan forgiveness promises fall far short due to red tape, fine print and bad advice. One program denied debt relief to 99 percent of borrowers.
The Department of Education recently released a status report on its Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, and the results are eye-popping. The program promises loan cancellations for borrowers who commit to 10 years of public service, and the first group of borrowers is finally eligible. According to the status report, however, almost no one is getting relief: Of the 32,601 applications received by the end of June, only 96 borrowers have actually had their debt cancelled. Ninety-nine percent of the applications that have been processed were denied.
As lawmakers explore new solutions to our nation’s student debt crisis and college affordability woes, PSLF should serve as a cautionary tale. The program’s outcomes are distressing, but they are not entirely shocking. At first glance, PSLF sounds simple and generous. But it was packed full of red tape and fine print that made it nearly impossible for borrowers to navigate — red tape that was compounded by inexcusably poor advice from student loan servicers. For instance, many borrowers were unintentionally enrolled in the wrong repayment plan while completing their years of public service, rendering them ineligible for PSLF.
Solutions to student debt don’t come cheap
To develop policies that are likely to gain bipartisan support, legislators look for “sensible solutions” with modest price tags. But this creates tension when it comes to finding meaningful answers that speak to their constituents’ concerns over the high price of college and rising student debt. With 44 million student loan borrowers and more than $1.5 trillion in outstanding debt, those solutions don’t come cheap.
There is no amount of magic math that allows legislators to concoct generous benefits for students and other borrowers at little to no cost. But there is math that can take a program aimed at providing a generous benefit, load it up with eligibility requirements, conditions and other fine print, and greatly minimize the program’s cost. The result is government programs that sound great at bill signing ceremonies and in policymakers’ news releases, but provide very little value to Americans when implemented.
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Odell Beckham Jr. got extremely candid about Eli Manning and the Giants. Here’s what you need to know
Odell Beckham Jr. gave a stunningly honest interview with ESPN this weekend, ahead of the Giants’ 31-33 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. He didn’t hold anything back. Beckham openly discussed his frustration with the organization, the underwhelming offense, how he wants more opportunities to shine, and when he was asked about Eli Manning, he was speechless.
Speaking with Josina Anderson, Beckham laid out everything he has problems with inside the organization, the kind of information we normally get a taste of via leaks and post-season chatter, not a national interview in the middle of the season.
The Giants were 25th in the NFL in total yardage, 21st in passing, and 29th in scoring prior to this week’s game. Beckham was accounting for over a third of the team receiving yards by himself, which was true again this week when he had 131 receiving yards of the team’s 382 net yards through the air.
Beckham had one touchdown catch and threw a 57-yard touchdown on a trick play in the game. It was the first time since Week 17 of the 2015 season that the Giants scored more than 30 points in a single game.
So what did Beckham say in his interview?
He believes his career has stagnated because of the Giants.
“I don’t feel like I’m being given the opportunity to be the very best that I can, to bring that every single day — and that’s really all I want to do, to bring that every single day. Since I’ve been here I’ve put up numbers, records have been broken and all those good things, not to say mean nothing to me, but I know they could have been double, or triple whatever they are now. That’s the part that bothers me.”
Beckham was a first-round pick in 2014. That season, he became the first rookie with more than 75 catches, 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns, and was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year. In 2016, he became the fastest player to reach 200 receptions and 4,000 receiving yards.
But in his first five seasons, the team only made the playoffs once, in 2016, losing to the Packers in an NFC Wild Card game.
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Bill Cosby wants out of prison already
It’s been less than two weeks since Bill Cosby got sentenced and his lawyers are already trying to get him out of prison — and the judge in his case tossed, too.
A defense motion filed Friday outlines his attorneys’ requests, which include the overturning of the actor’s conviction and three- to 10-year sentence on account of errors made in his sex assault case and trial.
“The defendant, William H. Cosby, Jr., moves this Court for a new trial in the interest of justice, or at least for reconsideration and modification of the sentence imposed on September 25, 2018,” the motion says, according to Deadline.
Cosby’s defense team claims Judge Steven O’Neill should’ve recused himself from the sentence hearing following the 2017 mistrial and ensuing retrial this spring.
“For the reasons detailed in Mr. Cosby’s previously-filed motions for recusal (which are incorporated here by reference, without being repeated and set forth at length), and for all the foregoing reasons, a reasonable observer could question the impartiality of the judge who imposed the September 25, 2018, sentence,” the filing says. “Accordingly, Judge O’Neill should have recused himself from imposing sentence.”
Article via: Page Six
Catastrophic limo crash kills 20, but no one knows what’s to blame
Schoharie, New York (CNN)This was a limo filled with exuberance — 17 birthday party guests who had many reasons to celebrate.
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Comedian Dave Chappelle backs childhood friend Jealous for Md. governor
WASHINGTON — A Maryland gubernatorial hopeful recently secured the rare endorsement from a prominent comedian who was born in D.C. and grew up in Maryland.
Comedian Dave Chappelle is throwing his name behind longtime friend and Democratic candidate for Maryland Governor, Ben Jealous. This marks the first time that the Chappelle Show star and stand-up comedian has officially endorsed any political candidate.
Chappelle told WTOP that his history with Jealous gave him confidence that the gubernatorial hopeful would make a good leader for the state of Maryland.
“I’ve known Ben since I was 17,” Chappelle said. “I knew of him all my life, but when I was 17 we became really good friends — and since that time he has been a committed community servant. A guy with his resume could have done a lot of things to make a lot of money, and he stayed committed to the things that were important to him. And he made a difference.”
The actor and comedian had a response for those who might say that entertainers should not get involved in issues of politics, as well.
“Those people can say whatever they want. Actors are gonna get involved in politics because American life allows anyone to say whatever they feel like they need to say,” Chappelle said. “And, I don’t go out here and say everything every time I see something wrong or feel some kind of way, but in this particular election there is somebody that I personally know that is very inspiring and very exciting and they’re running for an office for a state that I was raised in the first 10 years of my life, and I think he’s in a position to make a palpable difference.”
Jealous is lagging behind Republican incumbent Larry Hogan in the polls, though he tells WTOP that the numbers are not shaking his belief in the viability of his campaign.
“Back on June 26, the polls all said we would lose the primary for months — literally we lost every poll until we won the election by ten points,” Jealous said.
“If you go back four years ago, Larry Hogan was in the same place I am right now. What we know is that it’s not the polls that decides who wins and it’s not money that decides who wins — it’s the people of our state and the people of our state have shown themselves time and time again to defy the prognostications of pollsters and pundits,” Jealous said.
Chappelle had a parting message to everyone ahead of the upcoming election cycle.
“Try to get out and vote — no matter what you believe — because that’s the only way this is gonna work.”
WTOP’s Kate Ryan contributed to this report
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Justine Skye Is Bold And Sincere In New Single “Build” Featuring Arin Ray
The soulful new single discusses the ideal partner.
Throughout the track, Justine explores the concept of designing the ideal partner. “How many times have you sat there and wished you could build a person who is ideal for you—or what you think is ideal in your head,” she asked recently. “At the conclusion of the song, I realize you can’t build the perfect person, because there is no perfect person. What you have to do is make sure you’re perfect for yourself.”
Listen to the track below.
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Angie Stone is ‘still waiting on a check’ from Bruno Mars after he admitted Uptown Funk was inspired by her group’s 1979 song Funk You Up
Angie Stone still hasn’t been paid for her contribution to Bruno Mars’ Grammy-winning track Uptown Funk.
In fact, the 56-year-old soul singer has claimed that two of her songs with rap group The Sequence were used as inspiration for Mars’ track.
The R&B songstress sat down with Sister Circle Live this week and discussed the lack of recognition she’s received for her 1979 song Funk You Up and how it was used in Mars’ collaboration with Mark Ronson.
‘He never sampled it, he did an interpolation, which is when you re-record something and kinda twist it around,’ the Wish I Didn’t Miss You hitmaker told the hosts.
‘He did give us accolades, they just kinda got rid of it. He made a post on Twitter, months before, saying that his inspiration came from The Sequence,’ she explained.
The South Carolina born star then added that a second song by her rap group was used in Uptown Funk.
She explained, ‘He also used a song called Let’s Dance, when you hear that “Mm, jump on it,” you know, that was part of The Sequence’s repertoire as well.
‘So it was actually two songs in the song.’ she added.
It was reported in December 2017 that Angie and bandmates Cheryl Cook and Gwendolyn Chisolm are suing Mars and Ronson and seeking financial restitution for the ‘significant and substantially similar compositional elements’ of Uptown Funk to their track Funk You Up.
‘He never came back, and I’m still waiting on him to at least admit hey, we deserve this, because about 10 people have got their checks and I’m still waiting on mine.’ Angie told Sister Circle.
The Grammy-nominated singer is staying upbeat about the whole thing, however, as she quipped, ‘I’ll be rich and famous one day!’.
The Sequence was the first female rap team signed to the Sugar Hill label and one of the pioneers of old school hip hop.
When released, Funk You Up was the third rap song ever to reach Billboard’s Top 50 Singles.
The rappers want an undisclosed amount of money from the singer – Mars- and songwriter – Ronson- of Uptown Funk.
Both Mars and Ronson have found themselves in legal trouble before over copyright issues with the song.
In September, a suit was filed by Lastrada Entertainment Company, Ltd., the music publishing house that holds the copyright to Zapp’s 1980 song More Bounce to the Ounce.
The court documents claimed: ‘Mark Ronson failed in his goal to write something new. Substantial parts of ‘Uptown Funk’ were copied from ‘More Bounce to the Ounce.’
‘The significant and substantial similarities between the two songs have been widely commented on by ordinary observers, musicians, independent critics and commentators.’
The lawsuit draws comparisons to the settlement Marvin Gaye’s family received after Robin Thicke and Pharell Williams’ Blurred Lines unintentionally copied Gaye’s 1977 hit Got to Give It Up.
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The Grapevine Sparks A Social Media Debate: Is Bruno Mars’ Music Cultural Appropriation??
Scott Disick & Kris Jenner Slam Kim Kardashian As ‘Scary’ — See Why They’re Afraid To Look At Her
Scott Disick and Kris Jenner bond over their shared fear: Looking Kim Kardashian in the eyes! Find out why they’re so spooked in the sneak peek clip for the Oct. 7 episode of ‘KUWTK,’ here.
A discussion over a birthday gift turns into a revelation for Scott Disick, 35, and Kris Jenner, 62. Kim Kardashian, 37, gives them too much of a reality check — even as the reality television icons of Keeping Up with the Kardashians! While on a lunch outing, Kris reveals to Scott that she’d like to surprise her best friend, Sheila Kolker, with a birthday face lift in a sneak peek clip for the Oct. 7 episode of KUWTK. You know, as a return favor since Sheila was “there every step of the way” for the KarJenner matriarch’s face lift, she tells Scott in the clip below. But the baby daddy to Kris’s daughter, Kourtney Kardashian, 39, isn’t sure if Sheila will be as thrilled about the gesture.
“Even though it’s really a sweet gesture, are you at all nervous that you could offend her in anyway? Is it like, ‘Hey, your face looks old?’” Scott asks Kris. “Just think about it…If you told me that I needed something done, even if maybe I didn’t, I would definitely go stare and look at whatever that was.” And that gives Kris an epiphany. Kim is the metaphorical equivalent of suggesting someone should get a face lift! “Kim does that to me 24/7,” Kris tells Scott, referring to how she makes her self-conscious. And Scott can’t wait to relate — watch their full conversation below!
Scott always tells it as it is! In the last episode of KUWTK, our favorite baby daddy was pretty blunt: He does not in fact want a fourth baby with Kourtney, as he said so himself in the Sept. 30 episode. Once again, Kim’s meddling is to blame! Scott explained to her little sister Khloe Kardashian, 34, his text conversation with Kim in which she claimed he confessed to wanting baby #4. “No, it was more along the lines of her saying how boring Kourtney was, and if she was doing anything right, she would have another kid with you,” Scott told Khloe. And remember — he’s dating Sofia Richie, 20! It turns out Scott was just trying to be a Kim-pleaser. He continued, “You know how it is. When somebody in the family is super passionate about something, you just gotta kinda pretend you’re with it even if you have no idea what they’re really talking about.”
Anyways, we see Scott’s point. A complimentary face lift, although a nice offer, could be a bit offensive. Kris, maybe a gift card is safer?
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Chance the Rapper pledges $1 million to mental health services in Chicago
Chance the Rapper continues to show his support for Chicagoans in need as he pledged $1 million for mental health in the city Thursday.
He also announced plans to give $100,000 to 20 additional Chicago Public Schools.
Running in to raucous applause, Chance the Rapper took the stage in front of Chicago Public Schools educators, principals, health care experts and the world on his Twitter page with a major announcement for the city.
“I’m proud to announce I am pledging $1 million to mental health services in Chicago,” Chance said to rousing applause and screams of joy.
The new initiative by Chance called “My State of Mind” aims at creating a go-to, modern resource for Chicagoans to learn about and access mental health services.
Members of the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Chicago Department of Public Health were in attendance, among others.
Backing up Chance and his non-profit SocialWorks were big name stars like Tracee Ellis Ross, Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman and even Oprah expressing the importance of mental health.
“We need a new space to get information on how they feel and where they can go,” Chance said.
On Thursday, SocialWorks pledged to give $100,000 to six different mental health providers in the city to start. But that’s not all. Chance’s partnership with Chicago Public Schools just got bigger.
“This year, 20 more schools will get $100K…” Chance said to cheers. “We will be upping the game in terms of equity, in terms of what is rightfully yours. Principals, teachers, we got your back.”
Applications for those mental health grants begin in January.
Learn more by visiting http://www.socialworkschi.org
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