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Washington’s Top News – Monday, Aug. 4, 2014

By WTOP Staff

Here’s a look at some of the day’s top stories from WTOP:

Quake kills more than 380

China says at least 380 people were killed and more than 1,800 injured when a strong earthquake rattled Yunnan province in the southern part of the country.

The official Xinhua (shihn-wah) News Agency says about 12,000 homes collapsed in Ludian, a densely populated county located around 277 miles northeast of Yunnan’s capital, Kunming.

Relieving D.C.’s traffic, one slug at a time

They’re called slugs, or casual carpoolers, and they share rides with commuters in the D.C. area. They get a ride to work; the drivers get another body in the car, and thus a chance to use the high-occupancy lanes. Some people don’t like the idea of sharing a car with a stranger, but many of those who do it swear by it. WTOP’s Kristi King reports on some of the more enthusiastic fans of the practice and with experts in some of the other cities where it’s been used.

African summit to close roads throughout downtown D.C.

Speaking of traffic, it’s going to get rough downtown early this week, as The U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit will bring a slew of African dignitaries to D.C. for three days. That means a lot of motorcades and a lot of road closures, and WTOP’s Dave Dildine has the details.

Israeli airstrikes continue

An Israeli airstrike has killed a militant leader in the Gaza Strip. The Islamic Jihad group — a close ally of Gaza’s Hamas rulers — says the Islamic leader was a commander in the northern part of the strip, and he was killed when the strike hit his home just before dawn Monday.

The strike comes just hours ahead of an expected seven-hour truce announced by Israel. Israel also has been pulling most of its ground troops out of the Gaza Strip.

Second death from suspected drug overdose at Md. concert

Police say in a statement that a second person, a 17-year-old male from Woodbridge, Virginia, became the second person to die of a suspected overdose following Friday’s “Mad Decent Block Party” music festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia.

The Howard County police statement, released online, said the teen’s name was being withheld at the family’s request. Authorities said about 20 people were taken to hospital late Friday, many with drug-related symptoms. Police say 20- year-old Tyler Fox Viscardi of Raleigh, North Carolina, was pronounced dead at a hospital Friday. They are awaiting toxicology results in the deaths.

Do you know from where your caffeine comes?

If you’re drinking morning coffee or tea while reading this, you’re not alone — the average adult in the U.S. consumes 200 mg of caffeine each day. But that caffeine can come from a lot more places than the coffee or tea plants. On WTOP’s Living page, Rachel Nania talks with an expert on the subject who has been to factories where synthetic caffeine is made and explains why the demand for caffeine doesn’t look to level off any time soon.

The Nationals’ quiet superstar

He wasn’t considered a big name in the offseason, but now he’s one of the best starters on the Nationals – and in baseball. WTOP.com Sports Editor Noah Frank traces the rise of Tanner Roark, and looks at where some of the right-hander’s numbers rank among the big-league leaders.

Think you’re addicted to your phone? There’s even an app for that

How much time do you spend staring at your phone? No, how much really? A Pittsburgh developer says it’s probably much more than you think, and he’s developed an app that will give you the ugly truth. Find out more about the iPhone app Moment on WTOP’s Tech page.

A secret world of super-fandom

They dress like their favorite characters and discuss the nuances of their favorite show, but these fans are skittish about letting their identities be known. They’re bronies – adult fans of “My Little Pony” – and WTOP’s Alicia Lozano went to their convention. Read the impressions and see the photos from Bronycon on WTOP’s Entertainment page.

Man who shot NYC choke video held on gun charge

New York City police say they’ve arrested the man who shot a video of a fatal police chokehold. A police spokesman says an unloaded weapon reported stolen in Michigan was recovered from Ramsey Orta when he was arrested Saturday on Staten Island.

Orta shot the video of an officer using a chokehold to restrain Eric Garner on July 17. Garner’s death was ruled a homicide.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter and WTOP on Facebook.

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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