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Montgomery County buys four drones

By WTOP Staff

WASHINGTON — In some cases, drones are designed to take their targets by surprise. That’s what happened in Montgomery County earlier this month when members of the Montgomery County Council’s Public Safety Committee learned during a public session that the county had purchased four drones; three were being tested by the fire department and a fourth was in the office of the county’s Chief Innovation Officer Dan Hoffman.

While several members of the Montgomery County Council said they’re open to the use of drones, the council is considering a resolution that would call on County Executive Ike Leggett to come up with policies regarding the use of the drones or “unmanned aerial systems.”

In a meeting with reporters on Monday, Montgomery County Council President Craig Rice said he has no problem with some of the applications of drones now being tested. For example, drones could be helpful as firefighters head to the scene of a particularly large or complex fire, or one that involved hazardous materials.

“Keeping a lot of our first responders out of danger’s way while still giving us a great snapshot — I think that’s something we do need to explore,” Rice says.

Rice says he understands some of the reluctance around the use of drones. Because they are not fixed the way traffic cameras are, they could be potentially more invasive. But, Rice added it’s just one new technology.

“We use helicopters, we use aircraft to do speed monitoring. We have traffic cameras. So all of these things are already out there,” he says.

Rice was asked if the purchase of the devices before the county came up with policies on their use was either a violation of county regulations or purchasing rules.

“This is certainly in their purview. I mean, if the chief of police was looking at a new bullet-proof vest, the police wouldn’t come to us and say ‘Hey, this is a new bullet-proof vest, what do you guys think about it?'”

In previous hearings, Montgomery County Police Chief Thomas Manger said his department held off on the purchase of drones, citing regulations and most especially, public reaction and concerns over privacy. However, Manger said he’s open to looking at their use. The fire department has been testing them and considered their use for those times when conditions on a site would put firefighters in harm’s way — when being able to assess a fire scene from above could help them determine their strategy.

The county council will consider the resolution asking Leggett to come up with policies on drone use on Tuesday during the council’s regular session.

WTOP’s Kate Ryan contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter and on the WTOP Facebook page.

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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