Skip to main content

News Guide: Primary elections Tuesday in 8 states

By WTOP Staff

CHARLES BABINGTON
Associated Press

TOP OF THE TICKET

On a day with primary elections in eight states, the marquee race in Mississippi, where six-term GOP Sen. Thad Cochran faced his toughest re-election fight ever, remained too close to call hours after the polls closed. The state’s Republican establishment backed Cochran against state Sen. Chris McDaniel, a favorite of the tea party.

Voters also chose nominees in Alabama, California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota.

___

MISSISSIPPI TURNING?

The closing days of the Cochran-McDaniel race were dominated by a controversy involving, of all things, a camera in a nursing home. Four McDaniel supporters were arrested on charges tied to the surreptitious photographing of Cochran’s bedridden wife, who has dementia.

McDaniel said he knew nothing about it, but Cochran supporters suspected dirty politics.

Cochran, 76, emphasized the federal money — sometimes called pork — that he has steered to Mississippi for decades. The 41-year-old McDaniel’s critique of the incumbent was that he’s too willing to go along with Democrats in Washington.

While a McDaniel win would be a rare victory for tea party conservatives this year over a candidate favored by the party’s establishment wing, it’s not likely to affect control of the Senate. The winner of the GOP primary will be the heavy favorite in November against the Democratic nominee, former U.S. Rep. Travis Childers.

The Cochran-McDaniel showdown produced record spending in the relatively small state. Third-party groups spent about $8.4 million, mostly for TV ads.

That’s on top of $3 million spent by Cochran’s campaign and $1 million from McDaniel’s. The total outlay amounts to $4.13 for each of Mississippi’s 3 million residents, and $6.53 for each of its 1.9 million registered voters. The cost-per-vote figure promises to be much higher, given that primaries usually draw only a fraction of eligible voters.

___

SQUEALING PIGS IN IOWA

Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin’s retirement triggered a feisty Republican primary in Iowa, where state Sen. Joni Ernst made national news with a TV ad boasting that she castrated hogs as a farm girl. (She will “cut the pork” in Washington … get it?) Ernst went on to win endorsements from Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney and others.

The goofy nature of the ad doesn’t really reflect Ernst’s personality, but the attention it generated made her the star in a then-muddled field of five. She won the nomination, defeating businessman Mark Jacobs.

She will face U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, who was unopposed for the Democratic nod.

___

CALIFORNIA’S TOP TWO TAKE ALL

California holds its primaries under its unusual all-candidates system, in which the top two finishers, regardless of party, face off in November.

Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown grabbed one spot in the gubernatorial race. Two Republican candidates, former investment banker Neel Kashkari and state legislator Tim Donnelly, were locked in a fight for second place. Donnelly, the more ardently conservative of the two, has compared President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler.

Seven-term U.S. Rep. Mike Honda is being challenged by fellow Democrat Ro Khanna, a patent lawyer backed by several high-tech interests.

___

BIG NAMES, LITTLE SUSPENSE IN SOUTH DAKOTA AND MONTANA

Republicans see South Dakota and Montana as prime opportunities to take Senate seats from Democrats this year. The showdowns will occur in November, with nominees becoming official on Tuesday.

Former South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds won the GOP Senate nomination for the seat being vacated by Democrat Tim Johnson. Businessman Rick Weiland was unopposed as the Democrats’ pick.

In Montana, then-Lt. Gov. John Walsh was appointed in February to the Senate seat that fellow Democrat Max Baucus left to become ambassador to China. Walsh is trying to win a full six-year term, and will face U.S. Rep. Steve Daines.

___

UP NEXT

The next primaries are scheduled for June 10 in Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, South Carolina and Virginia, with a runoff in Arkansas.

___

Associated Press writer Bill Barrow in Georgia contributed to this report.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote