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Oklahoma abortion provider sues over new law

By WTOP Staff

JUSTIN JUOZAPAVICIUS
Associated Press

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — An Oklahoma doctor who performs nearly half the state’s abortions filed a lawsuit Thursday to block a law that would require clinics to have a physician with admitting privileges at a nearby hospital present when an abortion is performed.

The Center for Reproductive Rights filed the lawsuit on behalf of Dr. Larry Burns, who the abortion rights group says has applied for admitting privileges at 16 nearby hospitals but has yet to get approval from any facility.

The lawsuit in Oklahoma County District Court does not name the hospitals or give a reason why Burns has not been approved.

The New York-based center says the Norman doctor is one of just three abortion providers in Oklahoma, performs nearly half the state’s abortions and has more than 40 years of experience in performing the procedure. The group says Burns would be forced to close his practice when the admitting privileges requirement goes into effect Nov. 1.

An assistant who answered the phone at Burns’ practice said the abortion rights group is handling comments on the lawsuit.

The group says Oklahoma and other states in the region are using admitting privileges requirements as “an underhanded way” to close clinics and limit women’s access to abortion services.

“This latest restriction on abortion, like all the others that have been passed by this Legislature … reflects nothing more than a single-minded obsession with shutting down the clinics that offer safe, legal care to women who have made the decision to end a pregnancy,” Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a statement.

A similar law in Texas has already been upheld by a federal appeals court, but in August, a lower court carved out exceptions that prohibit it from being enforced along the southern border with Mexico and in El Paso — places where access to abortion is especially limited. The state is appealing.

Gov. Mary Fallin, who signed the legislation into law in May, said in a statement that she believes abortion “is wrong.”

“I have been proud to work with lawmakers in both parties to support legislation that protects the health and lives of both mothers and their unborn children,” she said.

Burns’ lawsuit comes two days after a Tulsa medical clinic contended in a suit that an Oklahoma law restricting the use of abortion-inducing drugs was an unconstitutional violation of a woman’s right to choose to end her pregnancy and should be declared void.

That suit was filed on behalf of Reproductive Services, a clinic that provides both surgical and medication-induced abortions.

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Associated Press writer Paul J. Weber in Austin, Texas, 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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