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Washington’s Top News — Monday, August 25, 2014

By WTOP Staff

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

Quake rattles California’s Napa

A medical center in Napa, California says it’s had to treat some people for broken bones and heart attacks following Sunday’s early morning earthquake that ruptured mains and gas lines and left dozens of buildings unsafe.

The magnitude 6.0 tremor was the strongest quake to shake the San Francisco Bay Area since 1989. Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency for southern Napa County.

US says American held in Syria has been freed

An American journalist kidnapped and held hostage for nearly two years by an al- Qaida-linked group in Syria is free. He was released Sunday, less than a week after the horrific execution of American journalist James Foley by Islamic militants.

The freed American is 45-year-old Peter Theo Curtis of Massachusetts, who wrote under the byline Theo Padnos.

Secretary of State John Kerry says Curtis was held by the Nusra Front, an al- Qaida-linked militant group fighting the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad. His freedom was facilitated by the Gulf nation of Qatar, which has been involved in mediating past hostage releases. Curtis was not believed to be among the hostages held by the Islamic State group that executed Foley.

Dad of 18-year-old shot by officer asks for peace

The father of the unarmed black 18-year-old shot and killed by a white police officer is asking protesters in Ferguson, Missouri for a “day of silence” so his family can grieve.

There’ve been protests since the Aug. 9 shooting of Michael Brown. But on Monday, Brown will be laid to rest at a public funeral at a church in St. Louis.

Dempsey: We will act if Islamic group threatens US

Gen. Martin Dempsey says he will recommend the U.S. military move directly against Islamic State militants in Syria if and when he determines they have become a direct threat to the U.S. homeland or Europe. But the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says he still believes the insurgent group is more a regional threat and is not plotting or planning attacks against either the U.S. or Europe.

Dempsey says he believes that key allies in the region — including Jordan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia — will join the U.S. in helping to quash the Islamic State group. So far, the Obama administration has restricted its military action against the militants to specific operations within Iraq.

Pediatricians’ Rx for schools: Later start times for teens

Pediatricians are sending a back-to-school message: Let teenagers sleep in a bit.

In a new policy statement in the journal Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatrics says delaying the start of the school day until at least 8:30 a.m. for teens would help curb their lack of sleep, which has been linked with poor health, bad grades, car crashes and even depression and suicide.

Kristen Amundson, executive director of the National Association of State Boards of Education, says later start times for teens is really an issue of cost because bus drivers would have to be added and buses rerouted.

Keeping kids (and adults) eating healthy when summer ends

Kids in the D.C. area are heading back to school, and that means a lot of families’ schedules are getting tighter. That often means a lot less time for cooking, but that doesn’t mean your family can’t eat healthy. On WTOP’s Living page, find a chef’s suggestions for making healthy breakfasts, lunches, after- school snacks and dinners that kids (and adults) will love and that, with just a little planning, won’t take forever to make.

Nominees share Emmy-day rituals, perspectives

Last night was the VMAs; tonight it’s the Emmy Awards. The best in television gets its chance to shine in Los Angeles, and some of the nominees explain how the fun of the awards began over the weekend, and share their rituals leading up to the big night. You can also look at a gallery of predictions, all on WTOP’s Entertainment page.

Nats keep rolling in wild style

It didn’t look good for the Nationals on Sunday, but they ended up pounding San Francisco for their 12th win in the past 13 games. Three Nats homered and pitcher Stephen Strasburg reached a milestone. Read all about it on WTOP’s Sports page.

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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