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Emanuel wants no more signs as large as Trump’s

By WTOP Staff

DON BABWIN
Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — Months after the installation by Donald Trump of 20-foot-tall letters spelling out his last name on the side of one of the city’s tallest skyscrapers, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is proposing an ordinance that would make sure nobody else can do the same.

In the latest chapter of what turned into an international news story about the war of words between Emanuel and the brash billionaire developer, the mayor’s office on Wednesday released a draft of an ordinance that would limit the size of signs, what they look like and where they can go.

The ordinance, scheduled to be introduced to the City Council next month, is hardly a surprise. In June, it was becoming clear there was nothing the city could do legally to remove the sign Emanuel called “tasteless.” It had received approval, first from former Mayor Richard M. Daley and again by Emanuel’s administration. The mayor said then that he wanted to make sure “a situation like this doesn’t emerge in the future.”

But the ordinance, in dramatically limiting the size and placement of signs, also assures the letters on the 96-story Trump International Hotel & Tower will continue to stand out. Trump’s letters are five times as large as what the ordinance would allow.

Not only would future signs be smaller, but the city would require developers to put signs just below their buildings’ rooflines. They wouldn’t be allowed where Trump has his: about 200 feet above ground, extremely visible in one of the city’s most crowded areas.

All of that is fine with Trump.

“I’m all in favor of the ordinance. I think it’s great,” Trump said Wednesday. “If nobody else puts a sign on the Chicago River I’d be very happy.”

Under the provisions, the downtown area along the Chicago River that the ordinance says is being turned into a “unique world-class recreation area,” would have similar protections. The largest buildings could have signs no bigger than 550 square feet — the signs would be smaller for shorter buildings. And no buildings in the area would be allowed to put up flashing lights, neon signs, rooftop signs or banners.

“As we transform the Chicago River into Chicago’s next great waterfront, we want to ensure that the riverfront is protected from signage that negatively impacts the visual environment,” the mayor said in a news release announcing the ordinance.

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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