Midwest
GOP senator demands answers from Biden admin on 'confusing' regulation that could crush farming families
FIRST ON FOX: Iowa GOP Sen. Joni Ernst has penned a bipartisan letter with fellow senators to the Biden administration expressing concern that farmers and their families are being subjected to significant financial harm by a lengthy delay in updating the process of applying for college financial aid.
“We write to express continued concern with the impact the delayed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) rollout will have for students and families, in particular those from family farm and small business backgrounds,” Ernst and 13 other senators, including Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, wrote to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona this week.
“The FAFSA Simplification Act was signed into law on December 27, 2020, and yet the Department of Education (Ed) released an incomplete and confusing ‘soft launch’ of the new form exactly three months delayed from the typical October 1 release date,” the letter continued. “In addition, Ed announced on January 30, Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) would not be sent to colleges and universities until early March. This creates an untenable timeline for students to review aid offers and compare their school options, with schools already pushing aid offers back to late April or early May.”
The senators wrote that Question 22 on the FAFSA form, related to student assets, requires “each student report the net worth of their family’s businesses or for-profit agricultural operations,” which the senators say doesn’t take into account the financial complexities of operating a farm.
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President Biden and Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa (Getty Images)
“This question fundamentally misunderstands how farm families operate, as the stream of revenue for crops and livestock varies significantly year-over-year, and assets cannot be cashed out to support a loan in the same capacity as traditional investments,” the letter states.
“As defined by Ed, these reported assets may include, ‘fair market value of land, buildings, livestock, unharvested crops, and machinery.’ These assets can range well into the millions of dollars, with the price of a combine harvester alone often exceeding $400,000. This, in combination with projected declines in revenue for nearly every agricultural sector for 2023 harvest, indicates Ed lacked critical insight needed to develop this asset reporting requirement.”
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Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, kicks off her Roast and Ride event in Des Moines, Iowa, on June 3, 2023. The annual event helps to raise money for veteran charities and highlight Republican candidates and platforms. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
The senators say that a farming family with a $60,000 annual income and $1 million in farming assets was previously paying $7,626 annually toward their child’s tuition and that under the new formula, that same family would have to pay up to $41,056.
“In this economy, asking Iowa farm families to pay five times more to send their kids to college is a nonstarter,” Ernst told Fox News Digital.
“As a farm kid myself and a recipient of a Pell Grant, I understand how critical federal student aid can be for Iowans. That’s why I’m leading the charge to force Biden’s Department of Ed to reevaluate their FAFSA form and ensure folks of all backgrounds can pursue higher education if they choose to do so. Rural students will not be pushed to the side and ignored under my watch.”
The letter asks who the Department of Education consulted in the farming community about the regulation and whether a discussion took place about how it would impact families.
“How should families reasonably calculate the value of their family farm holdings i.e., recent appraisals, commensurate value?” the senators asked. “Given that Ed has not provided guidance on a number of important questions involving farm assets.”
The senators also asked the Department of Education if it will “conduct an in-depth impact analysis of data throughout the 2024-2025 application process to understand the year-over-year impact of transitioning from the EFC formula to SAI formula?”
Ernst was joined on the letter by Sens. John Tester, D-Mont.; Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; Pete Ricketts, R-Neb.; Thom Tillis, R-N.C.; James Risch, R-Idaho; Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss.; Deb Fisher, R-Neb.; Roger Marshall, R-Kan.; Roger Wicker, R-Miss.; Mike Crapo, R-Idaho; John Boozman, R-Ark.; Kevin Cramer, R-N.D.; and John Hoeven, R-N.D.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in his office at the Department of Education in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
Earlier this month, Ernst and Grassley released a factsheet in a press release that explained how the Education Department’s delayed rollout of the streamlined FAFSA system has made it more difficult for students to apply to school and could send the financial contributions of farming families “skyrocketing.”
“Prospective college students and their families ought to have ready access to their financial aid offerings. But this year’s FAFSA launch has created more headaches than it’s helped,” Grassley said. “Senator Ernst and I will continue working with the Department of Education to iron out wrinkles in the new FAFSA, so that when the time comes for young Iowans to choose their college, they’ll have the financial information they need.”
The Department of Education did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
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The NBA Eastern Conference’s No. 1-seeded team enters the postseason with eyes on a title run.
After clinching the top seed, the Detroit Pistons are headed to the postseason for a second-consecutive season after lack of success in prior years.
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Wisconsin domestic violence survivors share their stories
Survivors spoke to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about what they want people to understand about domestic abuse and what helped them in their journey
The Milwaukee man accused of stabbing his 44-year-old girlfriend to death then allegedly confessing to the crime in a text message was found not competent to stand trial and unable to assist in his own defense.
Mile Dukic has been in custody at the Milwaukee County Jail since his arrest in February, following the brutal killing of Amanda Varisco, 44.
Dukic is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, use of a dangerous weapon, and felony counts of bail jumping.
The doctor’s report was submitted to the court April 9, online court records show. At an April 10 hearing, Dukic, attending by Zoom, and his lawyers Arial Rosenberg and Theodore O’Reilly did not contest any of the report’s conclusions.
Court proceedings were ordered suspended by Circuit Court Judge David Swanson, and Dukic was assigned to the Department of Health and Family Services for institutional treatment to restore competency.
Swanson ordered the parties to return for a review hearing on July 9 to report progress.
Here’s what police and prosecutors say happened that night
According to a criminal complaint, Dukic and Varisco had a physical altercation on Feb. 3 at an apartment on the 3600 block of West National Avenue.
Milwaukee police were sent there that night to do a welfare check.
Officers arrived and talked to Varisco’s daughter and the daughter’s boyfriend at the scene. The daughter shared with police a text message she said she received from Dukic in which he claimed he had killed her mother, the complaint said.
Dukic told officers in an interview he and Varisco fought because Varisco had gotten a phone call from another man and that she told Dukic she wanted him to leave, the complaint reads.
Online court records show Dukic was out on bail in two cases at the time of Varsico’s death – one for stalking another woman, one for bail jumping.
Chris Ramirez covers courts for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at caramirez@usatodayco.com.
Minneapolis, MN
Bruce Springsteen Releases Protest Song ‘Streets of Minneapolis’ – Minneapolis Today
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Bruce Springsteen has released a new protest song titled “Streets of Minneapolis” that sharply criticizes the Trump administration and federal immigration enforcement agents. The song pays tribute to Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two civilians who were killed in recent incidents involving ICE and Border Patrol in Minneapolis. Springsteen uses the track to express outrage over the ongoing presence and actions of ICE in the city, referring to Trump and his agents as a “private army” responsible for “state terror.” The lyrics directly address the fear felt by immigrant communities and even U.S. citizens under the current administration.
Why it matters
Springsteen’s protest song reflects the widespread anger and fear within communities about the treatment of immigrants and legal residents under the Trump administration. The track adds to the growing chorus of voices, including politicians and public figures, demanding the removal of ICE from Minneapolis and other areas. As the national debate over immigration policy continues, Springsteen’s use of his platform to advocate for social justice raises questions about the role of artists in driving political and social change.
The details
In the song, Springsteen refers to Trump and his agents as “federal thugs” responsible for the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Good, a mother of three, was killed by ICE agents on January 7, and Pretti, an ICU nurse, was shot by Border Patrol agents on January 24. These incidents have sparked protests nationwide. Springsteen’s lyrics poignantly reference both victims, including the lines: “And there were bloody footprints / Where mercy should have stood / And two dead left to die on snow-filled streets / Alex Pretti and Renee Good.” The song also features prominent chants of “ICE out,” mirroring the collective call for the removal of ICE from Minneapolis and other areas.
- Springsteen wrote the song on Saturday, April 6, 2026.
- The song was recorded and released on Sunday, April 7, 2026.
The players
Bruce Springsteen
A legendary American singer-songwriter known for his socially conscious lyrics and vocal criticism of the Trump administration.
Renee Good
A mother of three who was killed by ICE agents on January 7, 2026 in Minneapolis.
Alex Pretti
An ICU nurse who was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents on January 24, 2026 in Minneapolis.
Kristi Noem
The current head of the Department of Homeland Security.
Stephen Miller
The current homeland security advisor to the Trump administration.
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What they’re saying
“I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.”
— Bruce Springsteen
“The Trump Administration is focused on encouraging state and local Democrats to work with federal law enforcement officers on removing dangerous criminal illegal aliens from their communities — not random songs with irrelevant opinions and inaccurate information. The media should cover how Democrats have refused to work with the Administration, and instead, opted to provide sanctuary for these criminal illegals.”
— Abigail Jackson, White House spokesperson
What’s next
Springsteen is expected to perform the song live at upcoming tour dates, further amplifying his message and drawing attention to the ongoing issues surrounding immigration enforcement in Minneapolis and across the country.
The takeaway
Springsteen’s protest song ‘Streets of Minneapolis’ underscores the vital role that artists can play in using their platforms to advocate for social justice and challenge the narratives of the current administration. As the national debate over immigration policy continues, this track adds to the growing chorus of voices demanding accountability and change.
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