Current and prospective college students can now apply for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application for the 2021-22 school year. The FAFSA deadline for the 2021-22 school year is p.m., Central Time, on , with corrections or updates are due by the same time on .
“FAFSA is the gateway to $150 billion in aid to help pay for higher education, including scholarships, grants, work-study, and federal student loans,” Ashley Boucher, who recently served as director of corporate communications for Sallie Mae, told CNBC. “But some of that aid is limited, some of it is first-come 
, first-serve, and so families want to be among the first in line to apply for their fair share of aid and that means preparing for this October 1st application date.
Dubbed ‘striketober’, the US is experiencing an unprecedented amount of labor action this month as workers fight back against poor conditions. See full story.
A few states including Texas and California have decided to send residents a stimulus check, as chances of a fourth federal payment dwindle even further. See full story.
Texas ruling on transgender students
A controversial development out of the Republican-controlled Texas House of Representatives, which has passed a bill that bans transgender students from playing on school sports teams based on their gender identities.
Stimulus scammers: watch out!
The Internal Revenue Service continues to warn taxpayers to be aware of scam artists targeting stimulus checks as well as the Child Tax Credit money being sent out by the federal government.
According to Darren Lian, the acting Special Agent in Charge with the IRS. Criminal Investigation office in Phoenix, scammers can lure in their victims by knowing the exact words to use.
“By phone, email, text or social media,” Lian said, “they are attracting taxpayers with keywords such as ‘covid disaster relief, or ‘I can get you faster payments, or ‘I can give you a prepayment of what youre about to get. All of these tactics are trying to lure unwary taxpayers into a trap.”
Hollywood actress Jennifer Lawrence has called on Democrats to “Do better” as West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin looks to cut the clean electricity measure from the infrastructure bill currently being considered in Congress.
“Senator Manchin is about to cut clean electricity from the infrastructure bill. The future of this planet should not be a political gambling chip. Do better democrats. The country is watching you Senator Manchin,” tweeted Lawrence, a member of Represet.Us
Brookings Institue calls for expansion of CTC
Melissa S. Kearney of the Brookings institute has outlines “Six reasons why an expanded Child Tax Credit or child allowance should be part of the US safety net”.
3. Providing income assistance to children regardless of their parents work status would fill a hole in our current safety net.
Petition for $2k monthly stimulus checks surpasses 2.9m
A petition is edging closes to its 3m signature target, having gathered more than 2.92m signatures to date, making it one of the most signed petitions on the platform’s history.
“Our country is still deeply struggling. The recovery hasnt reached many Americans the true unemployment rate for low-wage workers is estimated at over 20% and many people face large debts from last year for things like utilities, rent and child care,” reads the petitions Mission Statement.
“These are all reasons that checks need to be targeted to people who are still struggling and that Congress needs to learn from this past year. It took nine months for Congress to send a second stimulus check, and just moments to spend it. Moving forward Congress needs to make recurring checks automatic if certain triggers are met. No more waiting around for our government to send the help we need.”
