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Argentine consular office rolling around Rio

By WTOP Staff

STEPHEN WADE
AP Sports Writer

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Gabriel Herrera has set up a walk-up Argentine consular office out of a blue and white van parked along Rio’s famed Copacabana Beach.

He heads the embassy’s legal and consular section in the capital Brasilia. While on the road, he’s available for Argentines who need that kind of help — and he’s sure to find some as 50,000 stream into Rio this weekend for Sunday’s World Cup match at the Maracana against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

He’d prefer routine stuff like lost passports and stolen phones. But it could get more treacherous if members of Argentina’s infamous hooligan gangs — known in Spanish as “Barras Bravas” — make it to town.

Says Herrera: “We are expecting the worst, and hoping for the best.”

Argentina vs. Brazil is among football’s most famous rivalries, and the proximity means Argentina’s blue and white striped shirts are nearly as prevalent as Brazil’s yellow and green.

Argentine visitors could top 100,000 for the last match in Group F on June 25 against Nigeria in the southern city of Porto Alegre, just a short drive from Argentina. Big numbers are also expected for the second game against Iran in Belo Horizonte.

“Having only easy problems would be good,” Herrera said. “People have been walking by asking for tickets, which we don’t have. So far, that is probably the top request.”

At the 2014 World Cup, Brazil and Argentina could only meet in the July 13 final.

“A victory over Brazil in the final — in Brazil — would be an impossible dream,” Herrera said.

Argentina — with England — has some of the world’s most passionate fans. It also has some of the world’s worst football hooligans. Violence is endemic in the Argentine league with showdowns between rival gangs sometimes leading to shootings, stabbings and deaths.

Brazilian and Argentine police are trying to keep the hooligans out of the country, knowing if they arrive they are likely to clash with Brazil’s own hooligan gangs.

“We are hoping it is all controlled at the borders,” Herrera said.

He didn’t want to talk about the hooligan threat, but widely circulated reports say Brazil is trying to stop about 2,000 Argentine hooligans from entering. Four years ago they made it to South Africa and wound up fighting among themselves and being deported.

“I think if some of them (Barras) get in here and find their way near the stadiums, there could be big trouble,” said Jonathan Arguero, and Argentine from Buenos Aires who was standing across the street from the mobile embassy.

“We have to deal with them every day, and they are a cancer on our football,” he added.

Judge Carlos Federico Pellegrino sits on a provincial criminal court in General Pico, an Argentine city of 60,000 in the central Pampas area.

He said he handed out a sentence last week in a murder case.

“Now I am on vacation here, trying to relax,” he said. “Really no matter what happens (here) it will seem small compared to the problems I handle.”

Standing in a line to enter the Fan Fest on Copacabana — an open-area to watch the matches — he had only one complaint.

“We came here and we do not have any game tickets. This is a problem.”

It’s not one he’s expecting the rolling embassy to solve.

___

Stephen Wade on Twitter: http://twitter.com/StephenWadeAP

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
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