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Arkansas Democrats calling, again, on Bill Clinton

By WTOP Staff

ANDREW DeMILLO
Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas Democrats are again enlisting their favorite political son to fend off a Republican drive to claim a U.S. Senate seat and other top offices, announcing Tuesday that former President Bill Clinton will return to the state to campaign for the second time this month.

The party said the former president would make a series of appearances in Arkansas over the weekend, starting Friday night with a rally in Hot Springs. The visits also come days before early voting begins Oct. 20 for the election.

“In Arkansas he’s still seen as local, as popular, as understanding how important this election is,” state Democratic Party Chairman Vince Insalaco said. “He wouldn’t be spending this kind of time here if he just did not see the stakes as high as they are.”

Clinton remains a beloved figure in Arkansas, where his presidential library is located and where the Little Rock airport is named for him and former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. He’s been a regular presence on the campaign trail in Arkansas and helped kick off Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor’s re-election bid last year. Pryor’s race against Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton is key to the net gain of six seats Republicans need to win control of the U.S. Senate.

He also boasts longstanding ties with the state’s top candidates this year. Pryor’s father, David, is a former governor and U.S. senator who was Clinton’s mentor. Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mike Ross got his start in politics driving Clinton around the state during the 1982 gubernatorial campaign. Ross is running against Republican Asa Hutchinson, a fellow ex-congressman who served as a House manager in Clinton’s impeachment trial.

And James Lee Witt, who headed the Federal Emergency Management Agency under Clinton, is running for the 4th District seat against Republican state Rep. Bruce Westerman.

Clinton’s campaign swing includes a Saturday morning rally in his hometown of Hope. He also planned stops in North Little Rock, Pine Bluff and Forrest City on Sunday.

Clinton last week campaigned around the state on behalf of Democrats, urging voters in his home state to not use the midterm election as a protest against President Barack Obama, who is deeply unpopular in Arkansas.

His campaign swings have followed a series of appearances by national Republican figures in the state, including New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former presidential nominee Mitt Romney and former vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan. The GOP has used the visits to try and highlight how unpopular Obama and other national Democratic figures remain in Arkansas.

Democrats say Clinton’s ability to mobilize voters is crucial as they near the Nov. 4 election.

“If they know you, they’ll vote for you regardless of the flavor of the month. If they don’t, they opt for the flavor of the month,” Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe said last week. “What can Clinton do? He can energize some of these people to offset whatever that flavor of the month happens to be.”

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Follow Andrew DeMillo on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ademillo

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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