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Prosecutor may release audio of Brown grand jury

By WTOP Staff

JIM SALTER
Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A prosecutor says he’ll immediately release transcripts and audio recordings of a grand jury investigation into the death of Michael Brown if the panel doesn’t indict the suburban St. Louis police officer who shot him.

Spokesman Ed Magee on Wednesday said St. Louis County prosecutor Bob McCulloch has ordered that the proceedings be transcribed and audio-recorded, an unusual step for grand juries in Missouri. The story was first reported by St. Louis Public Radio.

Magee said the decision was spurred by the high-profile nature of the case.

“We just want to be more open,” he said.

Brown was shot by Ferguson, Missouri, police officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9. Police said the shooting happened after a scuffle inside Wilson’s squad car spilled out into the street. The shooting of the unarmed, black 18-year-old by Wilson, who is white, spurred massive protests and several days of unrest.

If Wilson is indicted, the testimony and recordings will become potential evidence for trial and will not be released. McCulloch has said the grand jury investigation is expected to last into mid-October.

Magee said Wilson has been offered the chance to testify before the grand jury, “and it will be up to him whether he testifies or not.”

Critics have questioned whether McCulloch should be removed from the case given his family history. McCulloch’s father was a St. Louis police officer killed in the line of duty by a black assailant in the 1960s. McCulloch declined to step aside, and Gov. Jay Nixon declined to appoint a special prosecutor.

Others have questioned McCulloch’s decision to present evidence and let the grand jury decide on charges, rather than make a recommendation. Dana Milbank wrote a column in the Washington Post claiming the decision was proof of a “fix” to clear Wilson of any wrongdoing.

“He’s completely wrong,” Magee said of the assertion. Magee said his office is preparing a response to Milbank’s column. He wasn’t sure when the response would be made public.

In addition to the grand jury investigation into whether use of lethal force was justified, the Justice Department is investigating to determine if there were any civil rights violations. Wilson is on paid administrative leave pending the investigations. His whereabouts, and the name of his attorney, have not been disclosed.

On Wednesday, the city of Ferguson announced the schedule for a series of town hall meetings on topics such as racial diversity, growth and civic engagement. The first three neighborhood meetings on Monday will cover what the city called “misperceptions about the city of Ferguson.”

___

Associated Press reporter Alan Scher Zagier contributed to this report.

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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