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New Orleans police: Arrests in drive-by shootings

By WTOP Staff

KEVIN McGILL
Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans police arrested two suspects Thursday in a drive-by shooting that left a man and a teenage girl dead and seriously injured a mother and her two small children.

Chief Ronal Serpas said Blair Taylor, 20, is suspected as the gunman. He was being held on two counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted first-degree murder. Jeffery Rivers, 25, was booked with being a principal to the same charges.

Serpas said tips to police and to the Crimestoppers organization led to the arrests. Two stolen cars, including one believed used in the shooting, were seized and police have recovered a weapon linked by ballistics to the shootings.

The shootings occurred shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday in New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward. Police say 33-year-old Terrance McBride was the shooters’ intended target. McBride and 16-year-old Jasmine Anderson were killed.

A 32-year-old woman and her two young sons were injured and remain hospitalized. Two other people had less serious injuries.

While Serpas said the shooting is believed to have been connected to the drug trade, he gave no specifics on the motive. He said at least one more arrest is possible.

Jail records show Taylor’s bond was set at $15,000 bond after a 2013 arrest for illegally carrying a weapon with a controlled dangerous substance.

Serpas did not comment on the amount of bond but made clear he was unhappy that Taylor was on the street despite the gun charge and a prior arrest for aggravated battery.

“Taylor has an arrest record that reminds us over and over and over again, if you are a young man in the city of New Orleans and you are involved in drugs and guns, the chances of you receiving a consequence appear to be none,” Serpas said, adding that Taylor had been arrested earlier for carrying a gun with an obliterated serial number.

Among those with Serpas at Thursday afternoon’s news conference were District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro, and representatives from Louisiana State Police. Troopers have been diverted from other nearby jurisdictions and from other duties in New Orleans to help the city police department with patrols. And, Serpas said, troopers arrested Taylor after a brief car chase.

The extra troopers have been evident in the French Quarter since a June 29 gunfight that broke out on Bourbon Street, leaving one bystander dead.

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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