News Briefs: Catch up on school, local and national news

National:

The Biden administration passed a student loan forgiveness plan on Aug. 24 in hopes to make college more affordable after the pandemic.

The plan will forgive up to $10,000 of student loan debt to those whose income is less than $125,000 a year ($250,000 for a married couple) and up to $20,000 for those awarded a Pell Grant – a financial aid given to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need. According to the White House, it will provide relief to up to 43 million people, targeting relief to low-and-middle-income borrowers.

It also proposes a plan to cut monthly payments for undergraduate loans in half. This would cap monthly payments for undergrad loans at 5% of the person’s discretionary income vs. the 10% that was required prior. The decision comes after student loans were paused for over two years due to COVID-19.

World Regional Studies teacher Shannon Nolan is incredibly grateful for the new plan as she and her fiancé have been working to pay off her fiancé’s $70,000 student loan debt.

“[The student loan forgiveness plan] makes us more optimistic about starting a family, settling down in a house or buying a house,” Nolan said.

The plan also includes reducing the cost of college and keeping college prices more reasonable. Biden champions the largest financial aid increase in over a decade as well as making community college free. 

Along with the student loan forgiveness plan, Biden also announced he will be extending the current pause on loans to Dec. 31 with payments starting back up Jan. 1.

According to the White House, Biden hopes this decision will help make post-high school education more affordable and give more people access to college.

Local:

The annual Prairie Village Puppy Pool-ooza is happening Sept. 6. 

At the event, local dogs get to have the last swim in the pool before it is drained for the season. Their owners are not allowed to get in the pool during the Pool-ooza. 

The event runs from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and is $5 per dog for entry. The event is cash only. Dogs under 25 pounds will be in the baby pool and dogs over 25 pounds will be in the leisure pool.

Senior Abby Whitehead is lifeguarding at the event for the first time this year.

“It’s fun for people to see their dog swim and interact with other dogs,” Whitehead said. “Normally you would have to drive out to a lake to do that but it’s nearby and fun for people or families. It’s a really fun last pool day and a good way to spend one of the last days of summer.” 

East:

The 14th annual Music Revue is coming up on Sept. 13 at 2:50 p.m. in the auditorium with the theme being “SME Musicals Throughout the Years”.

Sophomore Gray Sullivan is performing at the Revue for the first time this year after being involved with the theater department last year.

“The Musical Revue really showcases all of East’s talents,” Sullivan said. “It’s also a really great way to get exposed to the arts and support the school.”

There are no cuts for the Revue, and rehearsals only take up to 30 minutes after school. Sullivan rehearses 2-3 times a week on average but each student has different rehearsal schedules. This year’s revue will feature music from plays such as “Grease,” “The Sound of Music” and “Cinderella”.

According to sophomore Hartley Graham,, the musical has a handful of new changes. One of the biggest ones is that there will be no opening number. 

Normally the revue opens with a number featuring everyone performing, but this year they’re cutting the number and starting the show with a solo. They have also removed the girls’ and boys’ numbers where all the girls and boys involved have their own group number during the show. Graham also said there are less people involved this year and a lot fewer freshmen in the production.