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Marathon suspect makes new push to move trial

By WTOP Staff

BOSTON (AP) — Lawyers for Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev have made a second push to move his trial out of Boston, arguing that he cannot get a fair trial there because of the emotional impact of the deadly attack.

In a court filing Thursday responding to prosecutors’ opposition to moving the trial, Tsarnaev’s lawyers said a defense expert who analyzed poll results and media coverage found Massachusetts residents have “an overwhelming presumption of guilt” in reaction to Tsarnaev.

Tsarnaev’s lawyers are asking that his federal trial be moved to Washington, D.C., where they say poll results show people are less likely to assume he is guilty. If that isn’t granted, they ask the court to hold a pretrial hearing on their request.

Tsarnaev, 21, is awaiting a November trial in the deadly attack. Prosecutors say he and his brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, placed two pressure-cooker bombs near the finish line of the 2013 marathon, killing three people and injuring more than 260. Tamerlan Tsarnaev died following a shootout with police several days after the bombings.

In their original change of venue motion, filed in June, Tsarnaev’s lawyers said a survey of potential jurors in Boston; Springfield, Massachusetts; New York City and Washington suggested that the nation’s capital would be a more suitable location for the trial. They said Boston residents were the “most prejudiced” on a number of critical measures, based on the preliminary findings of a survey conducted in May. Their new filing adds more supporting details.

The filing counters prosecutors’ argument that the court should first attempt to pick a jury in Boston. The defense says it could be difficult to determine bias by questioning potential jurors, who might be affected by community pressure regardless of their own feelings.

The defense said the large population of Eastern Massachusetts, cited by the prosecution, does not mean bias is less likely, since over half were at the marathon or knew someone who was. They said that makes it similar to the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing case, when Timothy McVeigh’s trial was moved out of Oklahoma.

The Tsarnaev lawyers said moving his trial 90 miles away to Springfield is not enough distance to find different community attitudes, since their research shows it is “a close second in prejudice” against Tsarnaev.

The filing also said moving the trial after failed jury selection would only generate more unfavorable publicity, delay and waste of court resources.

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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