Student loan proposal targets accrued interest; Israel and Hamas war hits six months

Today’s top stories

• Fortunately, it seems like it will be clearer skies than expected, Shelly Brisbin ​​​​​​explains on Up First. A big problem, though, may be traffic as people drive into towns to get the best spot for the eclipse. Some towns have even declared disaster zones to make it easier to guide the flow of cars. 
• If you want to keep up with eclipse coverage today, check out our live blog. It’s full of eclipse viewing advice for those who need last-minute tips on where to get glasses and how to take the best photos. The live blog will also be updated with unforgettable pictures, stories and coverage from all over NPR’s network as soon as the celestial event starts.  

• Millions of borrowers owe more money now than they originally took out, NPR’s Sequoia Carrillo explains on Up First. This new proposal hopes to tackle this problem. The Biden administration is using a process called “negotiated rulemaking” to ensure that the proposal can survive legal challenges this time around. The negotiated rulemaking process is a slower and far more traditional path to change higher education policy. The stakes for getting student debt relief passed are high for the administration, Carrillo says, because student loan borrowers are a pretty young group, which is a key demographic the president is hoping to keep in his camp.  

• The increase in aid and the withdrawal of troops comes after President Biden called on Israel to do more to lessen the suffering in Gaza. But yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s stated goal of eliminating Hamas in all of Gaza, including Rafah, where the majority of the displaced population is living in deplorable conditions. The United States is continuing to put heavy pressure on Israel to reach some sort of deal with Hamas. But Hamas wants a permanent ceasefire, and Netanyahu has repeatedly said he would only agree to a six-week pause in fighting.

Life advice

• Big changes take time to get used to, especially for kids. Don’t try to rush things. 
• Creating new family rituals can help foster a bond. At the same time, it’s important not to force a bond or try to “normalize” things if someone’s not ready. 
• Preserve one-on-one time with your biological child to help them feel secure in unfamiliar territory. And, leave the disciplining to the biological parent until you’ve established a caring, trusting relationship with your stepchild.

Behind the story

Before you go

1. Customers who bought certain “weighted goods” and bagged citrus at Walmart stores in the last six years may be eligible for cash payments, thanks to a $45 million class action lawsuit. 
2. Frictionless payments methods like Apple or Google pay might be causing you to spend more money.
3. “Waterloo” by ABBA  leaped to the top of the charts when it came out 50 years ago. On its 50th anniversary, fans gathered in England, Sweden and elsewhere to celebrate the song that put the Swedish supergroup on the map. 

Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.