American administrator, business executive and public official
The largest class-action settlement in American history has expanded automatic debt relief for an additional 170,000 borrowers after a 2022 agreement; thousands more had already received relief, with ongoing appeals affecting how balances are discharged. The Education Department is pressing ahead with broader repayment changes amid lawsuits challenging caps on borrowing.
The US Justice Department has found that Duke University School of Law used proxies for race in admissions, citing a probe that suggests Black or Hispanic applicants have a higher likelihood of admission than white or Asian applicants with the same credentials. The department seeks a voluntary settlement while Duke reviews the findings.
President Trump has signed an executive order directing federal health officials to cut the federal recommended childhood vaccine list, to split the combined MMR vaccine into separate measles, mumps and rubella doses once single‑disease products are available, and to space routine immunisations across separate medical visits. Public health groups and drugmakers have said the changes lack scientific support and will increase missed vaccinations during a major U.S. measles outbreak.
A close Trump aide, Natalie Harp, continues to draw scrutiny as reports detail her proximity to the president and influence over information reaching him. She is described as the so-called “Human Printer,” carrying and presenting positive material, and has become a focal point in discussions about governance and access while Trump engages in high-profile events.
IndyCar races through Washington, D.C., as part of the Freedom 250 celebration for America’s 250th birthday. Donald Trump waves the green flag to start the race, with a front-row audience including key allies and cabinet members. The event blends spectacle with political theatrics in the nation’s capital.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has expanded from Sevier County roots to millions of children worldwide, delivering free books monthly to under-fives. Following Parton’s death, communities in Scotland, the US, and beyond highlight its impact on literacy, foster care, and family routines.
The OECD has released 2025 PISA results showing a global drop in reading, math, and science scores among 15-year-olds, with the United States experiencing a widening gap between low and high performers. The data link increased AI and social media use with weaker performance, while a minority of countries buck the trend.
The Guardian reports that student debt has surged to about £53,000 per graduate, as fees were frozen at £9,790 and incomes fail to keep pace with repayments. Graduates face years of payments while vacancies fall, highlighting a widening affordability crisis for under-35s.
The Department of Justice has dropped two appeals related to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program after judges ruled against the Trump administration’s plans to narrow eligibility. The decision follows a June ruling that PSLF risks becoming a tool for political retribution. Advocates say the move protects millions of public-service workers from politically motivated penalties.