Current and prospective college students can now apply for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application for the 2021-22 school year. The FAFSA deadline for the 2021-22 school year is p.m., Central Time, on , with corrections or updates are due by the same time on .

“FAFSA is the gateway to $150 billion in aid to help pay for higher education, including scholarships, grants, work-study, and federal student loans, Ashley Boucher, who recently served as director of corporate communications for Sallie Mae, told CNBC. But some of that aid is limited, some of it is first-come, first-serve, and so families want to be among the first in line to apply for their fair share of aid and that means preparing for this October 1st application date.

Dubbed ‘striketober’, the US is experiencing an unprecedented amount of labor action this month as workers fight back against poor conditions. See full story.

A few states including Texas and California have decided to send residents a stimulus check, as chances of a fourth federal payment dwindle even further. See full story.

Texas ruling on transgender students

A controversial development out of the Republican-controlled Texas House of Representatives, which has passed a bill that bans transgender students from playing on school sports teams based on their gender identities.

Stimulus scammers: watch out!

The Internal Revenue Service continues to warn taxpayers to be aware of scam artists targeting stimulus checks as well as the Child Tax Credit money being sent out by the federal government.

According to Darren Lian, the acting Special Agent in Charge with the IRS. Criminal Investigation office in Phoenix, scammers can lure in their victims by knowing the exact words to use.

By phone, email, text or social media, Lian said, they are attracting taxpayers with keywords such as covid disaster relief, or I installment loan Fresno can get you faster payments, or I can give you a prepayment of what youre about to get.