| NIAGARA COUNTY: NCCC students above SUNY loan default average
The nationwide trend toward increased student borrowing has not passed over Niagara County Community College, where the default rate on student loans is above the state average for similarly sized schools.NCCC officials caution, though, that there are several outside factors weighing into that and that steps are being taken to correct the situation.In a September memo pertaining to the creation of a new position, NCCC Vice President Bassam Deeb wrote that NCCC's default rate is above the average for the overall SUNY community college system.That's true, said NCCC public relations director Lou Paonessa, but the issue isn't a simple one. NCCC's students default at a rate of 10.7 percent for all types of loans, but Paonessa said many of those are alumni who continue their education at a four-year institution and default on those loans.Then there's the local economy."Part of it is our economic area," Paonessa said.
Study on decline of French in Montreal hidden, PQ says
Four years ago, I was given a student from the Philippines who only knew a few words in English: yes, no, ok. Twice a week I worked with home for an hour, and after a year and four months, this young guy knew enough English to pass his driver's license. He was the happiest man in the world. Six months ago I met him at a store, and he came over to thank me again, and said: 'Do you know how much money I make now? $22.00 an hour. And I thank you for making this possible.'
This could also be done in Montreal if they really want immigrants to learn French. Posted 25/01/08 at 10:47 AM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to Comment .
Showdown At Post-Election Nuangola Borough Meeting
A tense showdown occurred between staunch sewer supporters and a balky Borough Council at Nuangola's first post-election meeting in November. With the pro-sewer minority soon out of office, time is running out for the sewergettes to have the votes to raise the motion to pass a resolution guaranteeing a 3.1 million dollar loan. In a meeting room packed with the pro-sewer side, lame duck Councilman Terry Jones broached the controversial issue, "Last month Atty. Shea [of the Nuangola Sewer Authority] presented a resolution requested by the USDA, guaranteeing a $3.119 million loan. Now we have a letter from USDA asking for action by council on this grant and loan package." Borough Solicitor Cynthia Ray asked Atty. Shea where the resolution originated, noting that it is unusual to have a resolution at this point in the process.
US pawnbrokers benefit from hard times
Hard times in the US are benefiting pawnbrokers as beleaguered consumers pledge jewels, electronics and other goods in return for loans with interest rates running as high as 300 per cent a year. Dave Adelman, president of the National Pawnbrokers Association, said the number of loans at US pawn shops had risen 15-20 per cent since October. He attributed the increase to rising fuel prices and deteriorating economic conditions – an assessment echoed by other industry executives. “Brief and shallow downturns in the economy may benefit our business model," said Daniel Feehan, chief executive of Cash America, the biggest US pawnbroker chain, with 942 locations. Pawnbrokers offer loans in return for personal items. Customers can buy back their property for the value of the loan plus a fee, which works out to an interest rate that can reach 300 per cent on an annualised basis, according to the NPA.
POLITICAL LANDSCAPE:
Unlike arson in urban areas, where investigators can often follow a paper trail to an economic motive held by the arsonists, the motivation and methods for setting wildfires tends to be more perverse and therefore harder to trace, Schiff said.Another crucial aspect of the bill, its supporters say, is that Sen. Dianne Feinstein is carrying the measure through the Senate, where it would have to get approval by the end of next year for it to notch ultimate approval.The bill had detractors in the House, but those who opposed the bill did not call for a roll call vote on Tuesday, leaving the act to a voice vote, an unrecorded tally that usually indicates that the presiding opinion represents the clear majority."Sen. Feinstein has introduced the measure in the Senate, along with a number of other efforts to try to deal with the problem of wildfires," Schiff said.
Justice moves a step closer to people
The district health department held a rally to spread awareness among the public about the declining female sex ratio in the society. Holding banners and boards, delivering a message of stop female foeticide, a large number of girls took out a march throughout the city. Dr Maninderjit Singh, local Civil Surgeon, flagged off the rally. The staff of Multi-purpose Training School, Punjab Nursing School para-medical employees and district-level health officer participated. BARNALA: Mahatma Gandhi dreamt of a country free from all caste systems in which all poor, Dalits, farmers and labourers have an equal opportunity to life. So we must make earnest efforts to achieve this equality, said municipal committee president Makhan Sharma at a function organised to observe the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi .
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