Dec 22 Watch 7:23 What you need to know about the extended student loan payment pause, child tax credit By Stephanie Sy, Karina Cuevas American graduates and their families may be feeling relief Wednesday after the Biden administration extended a pause on student loan payments. Payments will not be required before May 1, and the extension will help around 41 million borrowers. Meanwhile, millions… Continue watching
Dec 22 $475 million settlement proposed in longest-running U.S. oil spill By Janet McConnaughey, Associated Press Sixteen wells off Louisiana have been leaking since September 2004, when a subsea mudslide caused by Hurricane Ivan knocked over a Taylor Energy Co. production platform. Continue reading
Dec 22 WATCH: Biden speaks on supply chain issues, economic growth By Associated Press Biden said that retail inventories are up 3 percent from last year and on-shelf availability for products is at 91 percent, close to where it was before the pandemic. Continue reading
Dec 22 U.S. Treasury Department creates pathway to send aid to Afghanistan By Josh Boak, Associated Press The licenses will enable the U.S. government, international organizations such as the United Nations and nongovernmental organizations to operate in the country and offer humanitarian assistance despite sanctions. Continue reading
Dec 22 Biden extends student loan moratorium to May 1 By Colleen Long, Associated Press The Biden administration is extending a student loan moratorium that has allowed millions of Americans to put off debt payments during the pandemic. Continue reading
Dec 22 After Supreme Court abortion case, a new look at baby ‘safe haven’ laws By Astrid Galvan, Associated Press Safe haven laws drew attention this month when U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett questioned the role they play in the debate around abortion rights. Continue reading
Dec 22 Why Build Back Better likely wouldn’t drive up inflation, according to an economist By Michael W. Klein, The Conversation One of Sen. Joe Manchin’s main concerns in deciding to pull his support for President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan is that it would drive up inflation. Here’s why one economist thinks those concerns are misguided. Continue reading
Dec 22 Russia’s foreign minister says security talks with U.S., NATO will begin in January By Vladimir Isachenkov, Associated Press Russian and U.S. negotiators will sit down for talks early next year to discuss Moscow's demand for Western guarantees precluding NATO's expansion to Ukraine, Russia’s top diplomat said Wednesday. Continue reading
Dec 22 WATCH: White House COVID task force holds news briefing amid rapidly spreading omicron variant By Associated Press At the White House on Dec. 22, Biden detailed major changes to his COVID-19 winter plan, his hand forced by the fast-spreading variant, whose properties are not yet fully understood by scientists. Continue reading
Dec 22 WATCH: White House downplays Secret Service estimate of COVID fraud By Jennifer McDermott, Associated Press The White House downplayed a statement by the U.S. Secret Service that nearly $100 billion at minimum has been stolen from COVID-19 relief programs, saying Wednesday that the estimate is based on old reports. Continue reading