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A look at who’s in charge of Ferguson security

By WTOP Staff

JIM SUHR
Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Racial unrest has gripped the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson since Saturday, when 18-year-old Michael Brown — black and unarmed — was shot to death by a white police officer in the city where two-thirds of the 21,000 residents are black and all but three officers on the police force are white. Police response to protests since then has drawn strong criticism, and Missouri’s governor on Thursday announced the state would take over overseeing the security. Here is a look at some of the key players in the investigation and the security in the city:

POLICE RESPONSE: Heavily equipped tactical police from four regional agencies — St. Louis County, St. Louis city, St. Charles County and the Missouri State Highway Patrol — had been the staple of controlling demonstrators and warding off potential rioters and looters. Often in riot gear while carrying batons and shields and backed up by armored vehicles, each unit had a commander who would assess the situation and decide whether it merits use of force, including volleys of tear gas, smoke bombs or rubber bullets, according to St. Louis County police spokesman Brian Schellman. St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar has said he believes his officers have responded with “an incredible amount of restraint” while being pelted with rocks and bottles and shot at.

THE FIRESTORM: Police have been called into question by President Barack Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder and others for using militaristic tactics. Police have insisted they were responding to disperse protesters after some threw Molotov cocktails and rocks at officers, on one night leaving a St. Louis County officer with a broken ankle from a thrown brick, Schellman said.

WHAT’S CHANGING: The State Highway Patrol has taken over Ferguson’s security supervision, with Capt. Ron Johnson — a black Ferguson native — in charge. Local police will still be involved in providing security, but under state supervision. Johnson says he’s taking a different approach to the task and was on the street Thursday evening talking to protesters. Nixon, who has faced criticism for not stepping in earlier, said he believes a “softer front” could help diffuse the situation.

FERGUSON’S POLICE CHIEF: Chief Thomas Jackson has been the public face of the city’s administration and law enforcement since Brown’s death. He has pressed for calm amid the unrest. He’s heard from angry critics and protesters who have confronted him at rallies, marches and news conferences. He has faced criticism for not releasing the name of the officer who shot Brown and for not discussing circumstances surrounding the teen’s death. Jackson has refused to release the officer’s name, citing safety concerns. And he says it’s up to St. Louis County police to sort out the shooting.

THE INVESTIGATION: Jackson ceded the investigation of Brown’s death to the St. Louis County police force headed by Belmar. Named the county’s police chief late last year, the 50-year-old Belmar is a certified bomb technician who has been with the department for nearly three decades. Jackson has said he believes it may take two weeks to complete that investigation because of the number of witnesses who have come forward. St. Louis County’s prosecutor, Bob McCulloch, said he’s not bound by any timeline in presenting the case to a grand jury for a determination of whether charges are warranted.

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT: The FBI is undertaking an investigation parallel to the criminal one by St. Louis County police, sorting out whether anything about Brown’s death constitutes a violation of his civil rights. Also, Missouri officials have accepted an offer from the Justice Department to help with crowd control and public safety, according to Holder.

BROWN’S FAMILY: Brown’s parents have urged for calm in the wake of their son’s death and asked that the public share any information and videos they might have related to the shooting. The family’s attorney is Benjamin Crump, who represented the family of Trayvon Martin, a teenager who was fatally shot by a Florida neighborhood watch organizer who was later acquitted of murder. Crump has said Brown “was executed in broad daylight.”

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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