Things To Do In SW Florida

By Trea Branch | NerdWallet

For the first time in 40 years, students will see a completely revamped Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). These changes are part of the FAFSA Simplification Act and should benefit most families, but some households could see their eligible aid decrease significantly, experts say.

“Overall, I think there are a lot more winners,” says MorraLee Keller, senior director of strategic programming at the National College Attainment Network, a nonprofit organization supporting college affordability. On the other hand, Keller says she doesn’t want to underestimate the negative impact those changes may have on some families.

The FAFSA Simplification Act aims to streamline the application process, remove barriers for key student populations and expand federal aid eligibility. Notable changes to the FAFSA include:

• Replacing the Expected Family Contribution with the Student Aid Index.
• Expanding Federal Pell Grant eligibility.
• Automatically populating federal income tax data from the IRS.
• Adding details that determine a school’s cost of attendance.
• Removing questions about Selective Service and drug convictions.
• Simplifying questions that determine the independent status of students in unusual circumstances, such as homeless students, orphans or former foster youth. Institutions will have more flexibility in adjusting certain factors that impact federal student aid for these students.
• Translating the application so it will be available in more languages.

The long-awaited changes will launch in December 2023.

How the FAFSA changes will impact your aid

Changes that will impact most students

The Department of Education is changing how a family’s need-based aid is calculated. As a result, more households could receive more aid. read more

German supermarket chain Aldi is growing quickly in the Southeast U.S. — and not just by building new stores, but now through a major acquisition.

Aldi announced Wednesday that it is taking over Southeastern Grocer’s Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores. The acquisition includes about 400 stores across Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. The price of the sale was not disclosed.

Aldi said it will evaluate which stores will be converted into Aldi locations. Others will continue to operate as Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores. The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2024, the grocer said.

“The time was right to build on our growth momentum and help residents in the Southeast save on their grocery bills,” stated Aldi CEO Jason Hart in a news release. “The transaction supports our long-term growth strategy across the United States, including plans to add 120 new stores nationwide this year to reach a total of more than 2,400 stores by year-end.” read more

A one-night stay inside Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom is the royal prize in a giveaway that benefits Give Kids the World Village.

The experience includes other Walt Disney World activities, including three-day theme-park tickets loaded with park-hopping powers for four people, a $500 Disney gift card, an additional two-night stay in a standard room at a deluxe-level Disney World hotel for up to four guests and breakfast for four the morning of check-out from the Cinderella Castle Suite. If the winner lives more than 200 miles from Disney World, the prize includes domestic round-trip airfare for four people.

The two-night non-castle stay may be taken before or after the Magic Kingdom overnighter, and travel must be completed by Nov. 30, 2024.

There are two ways to enter. To secure a chance, go to gktw.org/castle and receive one entry for every $10 purchase. The site gives options for up to 500 entries for $5,000. To enter without making a purchase, the contest site has detailed mail-in instructions that must be postmarked by Oct. 16, 2023, and received by Oct. 20, 2023. The deadline to enter with purchases is 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 16, 2023. read more