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Ex-Gov. Ryan regrets last Illinois execution

By WTOP Staff

KANKAKEE, Ill. (AP) — Former Gov. George Ryan regrets letting what turned out to be the last execution in Illinois proceed, he prays regularly for six children killed in a fiery crash linked to a state agency he once headed, and he’s done answering questions about the marathon corruption trial that led to his imprisonment.

The 80-year-old spoke in his first interviews since his 2013 release from a federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana. The interviews with his hometown Kankakee newspaper, The Daily Journal, and the Chicago Sun-Times also coincided with the formal end on Wednesday of the Republican’s supervised release.

“I don’t have to get permission to do anything anymore,” he told The Daily Journal.

Despite his five years behind bars, Ryan said he had few regrets in life.

But one, he said, was his decision in his first year as governor not to intercede and stop the 1999 execution of Andrew Kokoraleis. Soon after, Ryan placed a moratorium on executions and that eventually led Illinois to abolish the death penalty by law in 2011.

“I regretted killing that Greek fella,” Ryan said.

Kokoraleis, the last prisoner executed in the state, was killed by lethal injection for the rape, kidnapping and murder of a 21-year-old Elmhurst woman, Lorraine Borowski. Citing systemic flaws, Ryan declared the moratorium a year later. In 2003, he cleared death row.

Those measures by a one-time capital-punishment advocate made Ryan a hero to many death penalty foes.

But some of his prison guards in Indiana, Ryan told the Sun-Times, “were angry over my death penalty moratorium.” Without additional details, he said, “They made things a little rough, but you deal with it.”

Ryan also spoke about his wife, Lura Lynn, who died in 2011 while he was still in prison.

“I had planned to travel with my wife, who was the love of my life,” he said. “I still plan to get in the car and travel. And I’ll always have Lura Lynn with me.”

One set of questions Ryan declined to answer was about his six-month trial. It ended in 2006 with convictions for racketeering, conspiracy, tax fraud and making false statements to the FBI.

“Everyone had a chance to read about it, write about it,” he told the Daily Journal. “I’ve said all I’m going to say on it.”

Ryan also addressed the deaths of six Willis family children in an accident involving a trucker who apparently bought his license when Ryan was secretary of state. The crash helped spark the Ryan investigation.

“It was a terrible, heartbreaking thing to have happened to the Willis family,” Ryan told the Sun-Times. “Lura Lynn and I put them in our daily prayers then and that continues to this day.”

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Information from: Chicago Sun-Times, http://www.suntimes.com/index

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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