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1 President Trump To Attend Papal Funeral
Pope Francis passed away yesterday at the age of 88, and the official death certificate lists the cause of death as a stroke and heart failure. He died in his Vatican residence, Casa Santa Marta. His health had declined in recent months, including a hospital stay for double pneumonia. Despite his illness, he made a final public appearance on Easter Sunday. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, he became the first Jesuit and Latin American pope in 2013. Known for his humility, he chose to live in a modest guesthouse rather than the traditional papal apartments. His papacy focused on helping the poor, addressing climate change, and promoting inclusivity. He also worked to reform the Church's handling of sexual abuse cases. The Vatican immediately began preparations for his funeral and the election of a new pope. His body will lie in state at St. Peter's Basilica starting tomorrow, with the funeral expected later this week, with President Donald Trump saying yesterday that he and First Lady Melania Trump will attend. Pope Francis requested a simple burial at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. A conclave to elect his successor is scheduled to start between May 6th and May 12th, as the conclave must start no earlier than 16 days and no later than 21 days after the pope’s death.
2 Harvard Sues Trump Administration To Stop The Freezing Of Over $2-Billion In Grant Money
Harvard University has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to stop a freeze on over $2.2-billion in federal research grants. The freeze came after Harvard refused to comply with government demands to limit campus activism, change admissions policies, "audit" diversity policies, and derecognize certain student clubs. The administration claimed these measures were necessary to address concerns about antisemitism on campus. In its lawsuit, Harvard argues that the funding freeze violates the First Amendment, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act. The university contends that the government's actions lack a rational connection to the concerns raised and threaten critical research that benefits national interests. Harvard President Alan Garber emphasized the institution's commitment to academic freedom and resistance to government overreach.
3 Involuntary Collection Of Defaulted Student Loans To Resume, Including Wage Garnishment
Starting May 5th, the U.S. Education Department will resume collecting payments from borrowers who have defaulted on federal student loans. This includes garnishing wages and withholding tax refunds and Social Security benefits through the Treasury Offset Program. Over 5 million borrowers are currently in default, with nearly 4 million more at risk. The department will send emails in the next two weeks to inform borrowers of their options, such as income-driven repayment plans or loan rehabilitation. Wage garnishment notices are expected to follow later this summer. Collections had been paused since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated there will be no mass loan forgiveness and emphasized the importance of borrowers returning to repayment to maintain their financial health.