Student loan borrowers in default will soon face wage garnishment and the withholding of federal benefits as the Trump administration moves to resume debt collection after a pause started during the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Department of Education began sending notices to delinquent borrowers outlining plans to restart wage garnishment beginning Jan. 7, 2026, USA Today reports. As previously shared by AFROTECH™ , nearly 1,000 borrowers will receive notice in the first round that their wages will be garnished, with that number expected to grow over time. What Is Wage Garnishment? Wage garnishment is a legal process that allows a creditor or agency to withhold a portion of an employee’s paycheck to repay a debt, typically after obtaining a court judgment, according to USA Today. The amount withheld depends on the type of debt and applicable state and federal laws. Garnishment generally ends once the employee repays their debt, the order is revoked, or the time period specified in...
For those wondering, “What’s happening with Apple’s credit card?” — the tech giant announced on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, that Chase will become its new issuer. The change will replace Goldman Sachs, which has backed Apple Card since its launch in 2019, and will take place over the next two years. “Apple is an iconic brand recognized globally for its innovation, design excellence, and commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences,” Allison Beer, Chase’s CEO of Card & Connected Commerce, said in a statement. She added, “We share a commitment to supporting consumer financial health, and we’re proud to deepen our relationship by welcoming them as the newest partner in our industry-leading co-brand credit card program. We’re excited to innovate together in the future.” Apple Card users can continue to use their cards as usual during the transition. Managing balances, accessing savings accounts , and applying for new cards will remain the same for now. Mastercard will also...
Stripe , a global financial infrastructure platform that enables businesses to accept online and in-person payments, has entered into a partnership with Crypto.com, according to a Jan. 6, 2026, news release. Under the agreement, Crypto.com Pay will become a checkout option for millions of Stripe-powered merchants, while Crypto.com will use Stripe’s payment-acquiring services for card purchases. “Increasing everyday accessibility to and utility of cryptocurrencies for consumers and merchants is central to our vision at Crypto.com,” Joe Anzures, Crypto.com’s general manager for the Americas and EVP of payments, said in a statement. “We are excited to partner with Stripe, a recognized leader in digital payments, to collectively catalyze a new era for crypto-enabled commerce.” Crypto.com operates a comprehensive cryptocurrency platform that includes an app, exchange, and wallet for buying, selling, trading, and earning digital assets , serving more than 150 million users in 90...
HealthStack Virtual Summit, powered by AFROTECH™, will take place on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. The event brings together physicians, nurses , and healthcare leaders for candid conversations about the healthcare industry. What Is HealthStack? HealthStack is a B2B platform for clinicians, health executives, and innovators committed to advancing equitable health care through credible reporting, industry news, and professional development opportunities — all in one centralized hub. What To Expect At HealthStack’s Virtual Summit The summit is designed for early- to mid-career professionals. They’ll be able to learn from industry leaders and gain a clearer sense of the future of health care — and their place within it. The summit will kick off at 10 a.m. PST with a welcome from Blavity Co-founder and CEO Morgan DeBaun , followed by an “AI for Nurses” workshop led by Anika Gardenhire, AdventHealth’s chief digital and transformation officer. Programming will continue with a fireside panel...
Historically Black Colleges and Universities ( HBCUs ) play a central role in the lives of Black students, fostering a sense of community that endures long after graduation. Yet many high school students remain largely unfamiliar with the institutions and their impact. On Jan. 2, 2026, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) released a new study titled “Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges,” which surveyed nearly 150 students, teachers, and school counselors across seven high schools in the Northeast, Midwest, and West. Through the study, UNCF researchers identified a significant knowledge gap: 67% of teachers and 60% of counselors were somewhat, very, or extremely knowledgeable about HBCUs, while 61% of students reported little to no familiarity with the institutions. Additionally, over half of students surveyed — 53% — said their school counselors never or rarely suggested attending an HBCU, and 54% said counselors hardly ever provided resources about HBCU attendance. “The pivotal...
A new year brings new goals and resolutions — and for many, the question: “When can you file taxes in 2026?” The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has not yet announced the official start date for 2025 tax returns, but past years suggest that the 2026 filing season will likely begin during the last full week of January. According to The Economic Times, this year’s filing season comes amid heightened financial pressures, including inflation, elevated interest rates, global uncertainty, and tariffs. However, these factors won’t directly affect filing deadlines. Preparation Is Key Regardless of when the filing season begins, taxpayers can get a head start by collecting their documents to avoid delays and errors. The most important documents to collect early are W-2 forms, which employers and financial institutions must send to employees by Jan. 31, 2026, per The Economic Times. Freelancers and independent contractors will need Form 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC, which report various types of...
Marc Metrick has stepped down as CEO of Saks Global, the company announced Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. The leadership change comes as the luxury retailer missed an interest payment on its debt Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, an amount that totaled more than $100 million, reports The Wall Street Journal. Now the company is reportedly weighing its options, including bankruptcy, according to The New York Times. Financial Struggles Mount At Saks Global Saks’ financial troubles stem largely from its $2.7 billion acquisition of Neiman Marcus Group, which also includes Bergdorf Goodman, in 2024. While the merger intended to create a luxury empire — delivering cost savings, stronger brand leverage, and improved customer experiences through shared loyalty programs — Saks has struggled to boost sales since the deal closed, per The Times. In October 2025, the retailer lowered its full-year guidance and reported that revenue for the quarter ended Aug. 2 fell to $1.6 billion — a more than 13% decrease from...
The morning of Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, many users began searching “Is Roblox down?” after encountering error messages while trying to access their favorite games. Roblox, the popular multiplayer online platform where users create and explore virtual worlds built from digital blocks, is experiencing a major global outage, Techloy reports. The disruption is affecting users in North America, Europe, India, and parts of Asia, with more than 15,000 complaints reported on outage-tracking website DownDetector. Per DownDetector, most reports involve server connection issues, accounting for roughly 63% of complaints. Gameplay problems make up about 31%, while approximately 5% of users say they cannot access the website at all. User reports vary widely: some players can log in but can’t join games, others are stuck at the login screen, and some experience brief access before being disconnected shortly after entering a game, per Techloy. The issues are affecting players across PC, mobile...
DoorDash has banned a delivery driver for allegedly using an AI-generated image in a suspected hack to fake a legitimate delivery. According to Nexstar, the on-demand delivery platform confirmed the deletion of the Dasher’s account following an incident where the driver allegedly used an AI-generated photo to convince a customer that their order had been delivered. The customer, Byrne Hobart of Austin, TX, first shared details of the incident, including the photo he allegedly received, in a post on X on Dec. 26, 2025. “Amazing. DoorDash driver accepted the drive, immediately marked it as delivered, and submitted an AI-generated image of a DoorDash order … at our front door,” Hobart wrote. Hobart later said he does not believe the DoorDash driver was ever at his home, but instead used several tactics to deceive both him and the company, Nexstar reports. He thinks the person behind the phony delivery was a scammer who hacked an actual driver’s account, changed their information, and...
Dame Dash ‘s film company, Poppington LLC, sold for $100.50 at a public auction on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, as part of efforts to satisfy nearly $1 million in judgments against him. According to The New York Post, Mike Muntaser, CEO of Muddy Water Motion Pictures (MWP), submitted the winning bid. Muntaser, who holds a $973,000 claim against Dash stemming from civil defamation lawsuits, described the purchase as a “jab” at Dash, accusing him of prolonging years of litigation rather than resolving their disputes amicably. He and filmmaker Josh Webber have successfully sued Dash twice for defamation. Additionally, as of last week, they have a third lawsuit in the works. “He’s just a problem,” Muntaser told The Post. “He has an ego. I think he’s just bitter [coming] from where he was to where he is, and he just blames everybody else and doesn’t look at himself in the mirror.” “For him being on a big stage with like Jay-Z and [Ye],” Muntaser added, “why are your peers doing good, [being]...
Tax season is here, and that could mean bigger refunds for many Americans after significant changes in the 2025 federal tax rules. But the season may also bring delays and confusion. According to USA Today, households will need to navigate new deductions for tip income, overtime pay, car loan interest, and the senior tax break for those 65 and older — along with unexpected restrictions. Many changes come from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025, which includes new tax breaks retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025. “The One, Big, Beautiful Bill will unleash the full potential of the U.S. economy. It locks in permanent, pro-growth tax cuts for families, workers, and job creators,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said of the bill. “The bill also enacts No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, and new tax cuts for seniors. The OBBB will strengthen important programs for those who need them most and save taxpayer dollars by cutting waste, fraud, and...
Barnes & Noble has said goodbye to two major locations as the nation’s largest retail bookstore continues to grow in other areas. On Jan. 18, 2026, the Barnes & Noble at Route 59 in Rockland Plaza, Nanuet, NY, will close after 33 years, The U.S. Sun reports . This leaves Rockland County with just one Barnes & Noble at the Palisades Center in West Nyack — a location whose future remains uncertain. An employee confirmed the closure on Dec. 29, 2025, telling the Rockland County Business Journal the store “couldn’t renew its lease.” Hundreds of miles south, another Barnes & Noble location is also closing. The store at The Shops at Pembroke Gardens in Pembroke Pines, FL, has been a local fixture for nearly two decades, but announced it will soon close. “It is with great sadness that we confirm the closure of this Barnes & Noble bookstore , as our lease has ended,” the store shared in a post on Instagram. “Our last day will be January 18, 2026. We have loved being a part of this...
FaZe Clan, the professional esports and entertainment brand, is officially without five of its core members, leaving fans closely watching what’s next for the Twitch streamers. On Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, Stable Ronaldo, Jason “Jasontheween,” Nick “Lacy,” Jerry “Silky,” and Alexander “Adapt” each announced their departure from the Los Angeles–based organization on X, according to The Times of India. The news came after days of fan speculation, with the creators noticeably absent from recent FaZe content. Among the group, Adapt shared the most detailed statement. “Left @FaZeClan 14 Years. Over half of my life, I’d be lying if I said this didn’t hurt, but it had to be done. Thank you to everyone who’s been apart of this journey, the best is yet to come,” Adapt posted. Former FaZe Clan CEO Richard “Banks” addressed the situation, stating that he had no involvement in the recent events. He expressed sadness over the departures while wishing everyone involved the best. “I have nothing to...
Is the stock market open today, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025? According to Naples Daily News, yes, U.S. stock markets are open. While much of the federal government remains closed following a Dec. 18 executive order from President Donald Trump granting additional holidays this week, U.S. financial markets are operating on a regular schedule. According to Section 1 of the executive order titled “Providing for the Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on December 24, 2025, and December 26, 2025,” all executive departments and agencies are closed from Wednesday, Dec. 24, through Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, with federal employees excused from duty on both days. However, U.S. financial markets operate independently of the federal government’s holiday schedule. While federal offices may close by executive order or congressional action, stock exchanges set their own trading calendars, which are approved annually and rarely change. After closing at 1 p.m. ET on...
Heidi Anderson, president of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), has filed a $1 million defamation lawsuit against former professor Donna Satterlee over Satterlee’s allegations of plagiarism and racism. Anderson, who is Black, holds a Ph.D. in pharmacy administration from Purdue University, according to The Washington Post. She became UMES president in 2018. In July 2025, Satterlee, who is white, had filed a lawsuit against UMES, Anderson, and other individuals at the school, citing wrongful termination. And later, she filed a complaint with the school accusing Anderson of plagiarizing parts of her 1986 dissertation. On Oct. 15, Satterlee appeared on the Newsmax network, repeating the plagiarism claims, calling Anderson a “scam artist,” and alleging reverse discrimination. “We cannot litigate the case in the press,” Anderson’s attorney, James Walker, told The Post. “We spoke to the school, and they reassured us verbally, in writing, and in an affidavit that Dr. Anderson...