Starting next fall, most Princeton University students with families earning less than $100,000 annually will not have to pay tuition or room and board. Families making up to $300,000 will ‘also receive additional support,’ according to an article in the university’s alumni magazine. According to Princeton, approx 1,500 students, more than a quarter of undergraduates, will not have to pay tuition, room, or board when the new program goes into effect. Previously, families earning less than $65,000 did not have to cover those expenses. All Ivy Leagues offer full tuition to some families, with the threshold ranging from $60,000 to $150,000, but not all schools cover room and board, as well, according to the alumni magazine. Jill Dolan, dean of the college at Princeton, painted the decision as an extension of the university’s commitment to diversity. ‘Princeton’s generous financial aid program has transformed the socioeconomic diversity of our undergraduate student population, allowing more students from across backgrounds to learn from one another’s life experiences,’ said Dolan. ‘Princeton’s historic support for lower-income students has made our distinguished liberal arts education available to a broad range of students from around the world,’ she continued. #princeton #university #tuition #college

A federal judge struck down a Texas law banning certain drag shows, saying the measure ‘impermissibly infringes on the First Amendment and chills free speech’ #texas #drag #dragqueens #politics #news

Haley Van Voorhis, a defensive back from Shenandoah University, made history by becoming the first woman who wasn’t a kicker or punter to play in an NCAA football game. The historic moment occurred during a game in which Shenandoah University defeated Juniata College 48-7. ‘It’s an amazing thing,’ Van Voorhis said after the game, according to the Washington Post. ‘I just wanted to get out and do my thing. I want to show other people this is what women can do, to show what I can do. It’s a big moment. I made the impossible possible, and I’m excited about that.’ There have been multiple instances of women playing kicking positions in college football over the years, but none of those were in a defensive or offensive position. Van Voorhis’ appearance on the field made national news, with an ESPN camera crew present to document the occasion. Tracy Fitzsimmons, the university’s current president and also its first woman in the position, expressed her joy at seeing Van Voorhis take the field and called it an ‘extraordinary accomplishment for women everywhere.’ Van Voorhis has played football for years, starting in fifth grade when she joined a coed flag football team. She continued to play throughout high school, where she was the first girl to play football at her boarding school in Virginia, and even served as team captain during her senior year. #ncaa #football #collegefootball #womeninsports

The Golden Globes will give out two new statues during its January 2024 ceremony, according to an exclusive report from Variety. The two new categories are the Golden Globe for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement and Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television. To be eligible for the box office award, a film must gross at least $150 million during release, with $100 million of that from the domestic box office. Streaming films will also be considered if they achieve a ‘commensurate viewership’ based on ‘recognized industry sources,’ Variety reported. The stand-up prize will recognize a comedian for their work in a ‘traditional stand-up form’ or as a breakout ensemble member, according to Variety. ‘The Golden Globes has a rich history of supporting and celebrating the work of comedians, and we’re thrilled to honor their brilliance alongside outstanding motion picture and television performances of the year,’ said Golden Globes President Helen Hoehne. ‘Additionally, we are proud to recognize the hard work and innovation that goes into making a film that is both a blockbuster and artistically exceptional.’ #goldenglobes #awardshows #entertainmentnews

After almost 5 months of striking, Hollywood writers can return to their jobs. Writers Guild of America (WGA) leadership approved a contract agreement with studios on September 26. After members voted to approve the deal, they announced the strike would be over effective 12:01 am PDT on September 27. While the writers still have to vote to ratify the contract in October, this approval will allow them to work in the interim. According to the tentative deal, writers have won a 12.5% pay increase over 3 years. Most minimums will increase by 5% once the contract is ratified, and then again by 4% in 2024 and 3.5% in 2025. Additionally, writers earned an increase in relation to foreign streaming residual payments, which will be based on a streaming service’s number of foreign subscribers. According to the deal, this amounts to ‘a 76% increase to the foreign residual for the services with the largest global subscriber bases over 3 years.’ Studios have agreed to share streaming viewership data—information they‘ve mostly kept concealed—with the WGA, with the understanding that it will be kept confidential and not shared with the public. The studios and the WGA have also established regulations for the use of AI in covered productions. Under the agreement, AI ‘can’t write or rewrite literary material, and AI-generated material will not be considered source material.’ This doesn’t bar writers from choosing to use AI to assist with projects, but ‘the company can’t require the writer to use AI software.’ These are just some of the key points from the agreement. Other wins include increased health and pension contributions, improved terms for screenwriter employment, and increased staffing and duration provisions for series. #wga #wgastrike #hollywood #entertainmentnews

NASA astronaut returns to Earth after record-setting mission NASA astronaut Frank Rubio has officially returned to Earth after breaking the record for the longest U.S. spaceflight. Rubio was originally supposed to be on an 180-day mission, but that turned into a 371-day stay aboard the International Space Station after an issue with the vehicle that took him and 2 Russian cosmonauts to space. According to NASA, Rubio orbited the Earth 5,963 times and traveled 157 million miles during that time. On September 27, Rubio and the 2 cosmonauts came down in a Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft and landed in a remote area of Kazakhstan. After medical checks, Rubio will travel back to the U.S. #space #nasa #earth #astronaut #spaceflight #iss

Why IL abolishing cash bail is important Illinois just became the first state to abolish cash bail — here’s why this is a big deal #cashbail #illinois #incarceration #prisonreform

Why Mexico City residents are tired of U.S. expats Mexico City’s American remote worker dilemma: Here’s why some locals are calling it a new form of colonization #immigration #mexicocity #politics

Riders get stuck upside down on amusement park ride Guests on the Lumberjack ride got stuck upside down 75 feet in the air for nearly 30 minutes at Canada’s Wonderland amusement park on Sept 23. ‘Guests were unloaded safely and assessed by First Aid staff before being released back into the park,’ the park said in the statement. ‘Two guests reported chest pain and were attended to at the park’s health center before being released without need for further medical attention.’ #ICYMIThis #canadaswonderland #amusementpark #rides #worldnews

Airbnb has unveiled a Shrek’s Swamp-themed listing for Halloween. ‘Shrek’s mud-laden, moss-covered, murky-watered swamp is situated among the rolling hills of Scotland where guests can stay up late, swap stories, and eat like an ogre – because in the morning, Donkey’s making waffles!’ Airbnb announced in a press release. The dwelling features ‘rustic interiors‘ and the ‘iconic outhouse’ straight out of the film, according to Airbnb. Even better, visitors won’t have to pay a thing. Starting Oct 13 at 6 pm BST, potential guests can vie for a two-night stay at the end of the month. Be warned, Airbnb isn’t kidding about the outhouse. ‘The bathroom is located 20 meters from the main living area in a standalone facility,’ according to the news release. #airbnb #shrek #movies #entertainmentnews

The New York City Fire Department announced two more of its members died this month due to illnesses caused by the time they spent at ground zero. Their deaths bring the total number of FDNY first responders killed by 9/11-related illness to 343, which is equal to the number of FDNY first responders who died the day of the attacks. According to an FDNY statement, EMT Hilda Vannata died of pancreatic cancer, and retired firefighter Robert Fulco passed away due to pulmonary fibrosis. Both deaths were the ‘result of time spent working in the rescue and recovery at the World Trade Center site,’ Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said in the department's statement. Following the attacks, thousands of first responders spent months at ground zero, working on recovery operations that exposed them to dust that included hazardous and toxic chemicals. This exposure has been linked to a number of ailments, including cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and cancer. Per the FDNY, 11,000 current and former fire department employees are suffering from illnesses related to their time spent near the World Trade Center, including approx 3,500 who have cancer. ‘We have long known this day was coming, yet its reality is astounding just the same,’ said Kavanagh. She added, ‘343 of our heroes lost in one day, and today, 343 more. The FDNY will never forget them. This is our legacy. This is our promise.’ #fdny #firstresponders #september11 #newyorkcity #news

Usher to headline 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show We got it, we got it bad — All we’re thinking about is Usher performing at the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show #usher #superbowl #halftimeshow #entertainmentnews