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2 FBI employees killed in Ohio River collision

By WTOP Staff

DAN SEWELL
Associated Press

CINCINNATI (AP) — U.S. Coast Guard and state investigative teams were working Friday at the Ohio River area where two off-duty FBI employees were killed in a collision between a barge and a small pleasure boat, trying to piece together how the accident occurred.

The two men’s boat hit a 600-foot barge late Thursday in the river between Cincinnati and Newport, Kentucky. The two were found dead on the boat when fire crews arrived, authorities said.

“It is with great sadness that we advise that two FBI employees were involved in a tragic accident late last night,” the FBI said in a statement Friday.

FBI spokesman Todd Lindgren said they were Cincinnati division employees but not special agents. They were identified as John Stack II, 29, and Bruce Eastlick, 28. No other information about them was released immediately.

Authorities said the barge was heading upriver, toward West Virginia.

The boat was heading toward the barge, said Hank Patton, director of law enforcement for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Then it made a 90-degree turn in front of the barge.

Patton said navigation lights were working on both vessels.

The first calls on the collision were made just before 11 p.m. Thursday, authorities said. Local fire departments from both sides of the river responded initially.

Among possible factors under investigation by the Coast Guard and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources were whether speed or alcohol was involved.

“The Coast Guard will conduct a thorough investigation,” Capt. Richard Timme, Coast Guard commander for Ohio Valley, said in a statement.

Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Roy said he couldn’t estimate a timetable for the completion of the investigation.

Cincinnati District Fire Chief Lou Arnold told The Cincinnati Enquirer that the barge captain was at the wheel and saw the collision.

“He was looking right out the front watching what was going on. It was a big barge,” Arnold said. “The (pleasure boat) just crossed right in front of them and slammed into the barge. We can only assume they didn’t see it.”

Kenneth Kidwell said he was near the accident scene Thursday night.

“It was very loud … very loud,” Kidwell told WCPO-TV. “Metal on metal.”

Emergency crews searched the river through the night to make sure there was no one who had been thrown overboard.

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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