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Virginia lawmakers set for special session Monday

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Lawmakers are set to convene in Richmond for a short special session to elect judges and allocate Virginia’s $4.3 billion share of the latest federal coronavirus relief bill.

The sweeping relief bill President Joe Biden signed into law in March directed $350 billion in aid to state, local and tribal governments. It’s intended to help meet pandemic response needs and bolster the economy.

Gov. Ralph Northam worked with fellow Democratic legislative leaders to craft the proposal that will be taken up. That’s drawn the ire of Republicans, who say it shows a lack of transparency to decide behind closed doors how to use such a huge influx of taxpayer money.

Completing the FAFSA: Everything you should know

Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, which opens by Dec. 31, is one of the most important steps students and their families can take to pay for college. Some states now make completing the FAFSA a high school graduation requirement. The U.S. Department of Education awarded about $111.6 billion in federal grants, loans and work-study funds in fiscal year 2022, according to the most recent Federal Student Aid annual report. Those federal funds will assist roughly 9.8 million students in completing their education.
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