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Mar 20 2026POLITICS

A Major Shift in Student Loan Management Raises Questions

The federal government is making a big change in how it handles student loans. Starting now, the Treasury Department will take charge of loans where borrowers haven’t made payments in months. This covers about $180 billion of the government’s $1. 7 trillion student debt. Eventually, the Treasury wi

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Mar 20 2026POLITICS

EU pushes for peace, not strikes, in Middle East energy fight

EU leaders want no more attacks on energy and water plants in the Middle East. They worry these strikes could hurt global oil prices and make the Iran war worse. In a meeting in Brussels, the 27 countries agreed to ask everyone to stop fighting near these important buildings. They also want civil ri

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Mar 20 2026HEALTH

CDC Leadership Search Shows Hope Amid Health Department Turmoil

The hunt for a new CDC director is sparking cautious optimism, even as the agency grapples with years of shakeups and policy disputes. Recent candidates for the top role suggest better days ahead, but the CDC’s past struggles under political pressure raise questions about stability. The agency has s

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Mar 20 2026POLITICS

A new plan for handling student loans shifts focus to the Treasury

The government just announced a three-step plan to move control of student loans to the Treasury Department. First, it will focus on loans that are already in default. Next, it will handle loans that are not yet in default, as long as it’s legally possible. Finally, the Treasury will help make sure

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Mar 19 2026POLITICS

Kharg Island: A Hot Spot in the Middle East War

The U. S. has been hitting Kharg Island, a key oil hub in Iran’s Gulf coast, during its fight with Tehran. President Trump says the island’s oil facilities were left alone, but he warned that could change if Iran blocks ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The strait is a major oil route; about 20 million

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Mar 19 2026CRIME

Jimmy Gracey’s Wallet Turns Up in Spanish Sea

James “Jimmy” Gracey, a 20‑year‑old college student from Chicago, vanished while on spring break in Barcelona. The last sighting was outside a club called Shoko near Barceloneta Beach. On Thursday, Spanish police reported finding his wallet drifting in the water close to Somorrostro beach. They had

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Mar 19 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Reality Star’s Drama Hits TV and Sponsors

Taylor Frankie Paul, who first gained fame on MomTok before starring in Hulu’s “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, ” is now at the center of a domestic‑violence investigation that could change how her shows run. Police in Utah opened a case involving Paul and her ex‑boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, who toget

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Mar 19 2026CRIME

Joseph Duggar Arrested Over 2020 Allegations Near Arkansas Home

Joseph Duggar, a former member of the reality series that once showcased his family’s life, was taken into custody by local police near his residence in Tontitown, Arkansas, on March 18. Authorities say the arrest follows claims that he abused a nine‑year‑old girl during a family vacation in Florida

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Mar 19 2026POLITICS

Europe Stays Out of Middle East War, Focuses on Energy Prices

In Brussels, European leaders gathered to talk about how the fighting in the Middle East is pushing up oil and gas costs. They said they will not send troops to help the United States or Israel protect the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil. The meeting started with worries about rising en

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Mar 19 2026FINANCE

Hidden Risks in the $3 Trillion Credit Boom

Private‑credit lending, a fast‑growing but less visible part of finance, is now catching the eye of investors and banks alike. The sector, which lets private‑equity firms and other nonbank entities lend to companies such as software developers and auto lenders, has ballooned to about $3 trillion.

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