DEPARTMENT

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 07 2026BUSINESS

Saks and Neiman Marcus Cut Store Count as Debt Gets Slashed

The luxury retail giants are trimming their physical footprints to stay afloat. In a new move, the parent company will shut 12 Saks Fifth Avenue locations and three Neiman Marcus shops by the end of May. This follows earlier closures that ended in April, bringing the total number of shutdowns to 24

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Feb 24 2026POLITICS

Justice Office Pauses Probe of Six Lawmakers

A U. S. Attorney in Washington decided not to press charges against six members of Congress after a federal grand jury said there was no probable cause. The lawyers had tried to indict lawmakers who posted a video urging military and intelligence people not to follow illegal orders. The grand jury r

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Feb 08 2026POLITICS

Harvard’s Military Programs Get a Cutback

The Department of Defense announced that it will end its partnership with Harvard’s Kennedy School for graduate military education. Secretary Pete Hegseth, who studied at the same institution, explained that the programs no longer fit the needs of the Pentagon or the armed forces. As a result,

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Jan 23 2026POLITICS

A Shift in U. S. Tech Security Leadership

The U. S. Commerce Department has seen a change in leadership within a key office focused on tech security. Elizabeth "Liz" Cannon, who headed the Information and Communications Technology and Services (ICTS) office, has stepped down. This office, established in 2022, was tasked with investigating t

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Jan 21 2026POLITICS

Data Leak: What Happened with DOGE and Social Security?

A recent court filing by the Justice Department revealed a significant data security issue. Employees from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), who were working with the Social Security Administration (SSA), shared sensitive information through an unsecured third-party server. This action

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Jan 20 2026TECHNOLOGY

Time to Upgrade Sycamore's Aging Security Cameras

Sycamore is looking to give its old security cameras a much-needed upgrade. The current systems in place are outdated and not doing their job well enough. This is a big deal for keeping people safe and managing risks. The city has even gotten quotes from three different companies to replace the old

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Jan 20 2026HEALTH

How a Hospital Teamwork with Local Groups Helps Abuse Survivors

A hospital's emergency room wanted to improve how it helps people who suffer from abuse in relationships. They decided to work with local groups that support these survivors. The hospital created a team with leaders from five of these groups. The goal was to make sure the hospital and the groups cou

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Jan 18 2026EDUCATION

Fewer Eyes on Campus Violence: How Layoffs Hit School Safety

The Education Department's role in tackling sexual violence on campuses has taken a hit. Once a strong force, it's now struggling to keep up. The Office for Civil Rights, which handles these cases, saw half its lawyers go in a round of layoffs. This has left over 25, 000 cases waiting to be looked a

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Jan 18 2026POLITICS

Minnesota Leaders Face Federal Scrutiny Over Immigration Enforcement

The Department of Justice is looking into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. They are accused of making it hard for federal officers to do their jobs. This is about immigration enforcement in the state. The investigation started after Walz and Frey made public statements.

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