Chevrolet gives Tahoe, Suburban more tech, larger screens for 2025
The updated full-size SUVs will go into production late next year at GM’s assembly plant in Arlington, Texas.
Former dealership executive Erik Maund, co-conspirators face life in prison after murder-for-hire conviction
Erik Maund paid nearly $1 million to have two people murdered to cover up an affair, according to a U.S. Attorney’s office.
US targets banks’ billions of dollars in overdraft fees
A top US consumer watchdog is preparing to make it much harder for banks to charge clients overdraft fees — setting up a clash with financial firms over billions of dollars in annual revenue.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau officials have privately told industry executives that the regulator will likely unveil its long-awaited plan to crack down in December, according to people familiar with the discussions. The CFPB has been crafting the regulations for months, and most of the details remain secret.
Washington has been clamping down on overdraft charges, which the Biden administration has dubbed “junk fees.” The CFPB, which declined to comment on the timing of its plans, has said banks got nearly $8.5 billion in 2021 from insufficient fund and certain low-balance fees.
Wells Fargo & Co. reached a $3.7 billion settlement with federal regulators in December to settle allegations it illegally charged “surprise” overdraft fees, among other claims. Regions Financial Corp. agreed to pay $191 million to settle a similar case in September 2022, and the CFPB called the bank a “repeat offender.” Neither bank admitted or denied the regulator’s allegations.
Rivian launches leasing program with R1T pickup
Two years after launching the EV brand, Rivian adds leasing to its sales model. The program starts in 14 states with inventory models of the R1T pickup. Rivian says it will add the R1S crossover later.
What to do instead of college: 6 alternatives to consider
By Eliza Haverstock | NerdWallet
Despite a growing sentiment against college and its high sticker prices, getting a bachelor’s degree is still worth it: In 2021, the median earnings of 25- to 34-year-olds with a bachelor’s degree were 55% higher than those who only completed high school, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
But a traditional college degree isn’t the only ticket to a well-paying career and rewarding life.
“The number of alternative pathways that are available is expanding dramatically. It’s no longer, ‘I have to go to a four-year school,’” says Mark Schneider, director of the U.S. Education Department’s Institute of Education Sciences. Increasingly, he says, hiring managers focus on skills rather than degrees.
Many of these alternative pathways are more affordable than a bachelor’s degree, too. To build the skills necessary for a successful and potentially lucrative career, consider these six routes.
If you want to build skills and learn
1. Community college
You can earn an associate degree in just two years at a community college. The U.S. contains more than 1,000 community colleges, and average annual tuition and fees cost $3,860 — compared with $10,940 for a public, in-state four-year college, according to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). Students may also use need-based Pell Grants — up to $7,395 per year that won’t need to be repaid — and student loans to pay for community college. Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to become eligible for financial aid, including loans, grants and some scholarships.