Storms blamed for 2 deaths sweep across the South

By WTOP Staff
October 14, 2014 | 12:30 PM

ATLANTA (AP) — A severe storm system is roughing up much of the South for a second day. It knocked out power to tens of thousands and snarled morning commutes.

The storm system claimed two lives yesterday after spinning off tornadoes in Arkansas and Missouri. And it sent heavy thunderstorms across much of Georgia early today.

In Atlanta, cars crawled under heavy rain as water pooled on some low-lying roadways.

Forecasters say tornadoes and damaging wind are still a threat as the storms head across the southern Appalachians into the Carolinas.

Georgia Power reported more than 29,000 customers without electricity early today, the bulk of the outages in the greater Atlanta area. Alabama Power reported about 20,500 customers still without power.

In Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency yesterday even before the severe weather had cleared out of his state. A major utility provider in Louisiana, Entergy, said more than 37,000 customers remained without power in hard-hit regions of the state.

%@AP Links

049-a-06-(Jennifer Hensley, KNOE-TV producer, in AP interview)-“it this bad (second time)”-Monroe, Louisiana TV producer Jennifer Hensley says viewers calling into her station say the severe weather is the worst they can remember. (14 Oct 2014)

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048-a-07-(Jennifer Hensley, KNOE-TV producer, in AP interview)-“a tornado coming”-Monroe, Louisiana TV producer Jennifer Hensley was teaching a class at a nearby college when the tornado warning was announced. (14 Oct 2014)

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APPHOTO TXTEX102: Neighbors and Arkansas State Police search though the rubble Monday, Oct, 13, 2014, for valuables and anything they can salvage for the family of Eddie Withem who was killed in a tornado about 5 a.m. Monday in Arden, Ark., about 10 miles west of Ashdown. Forecasters were warning residents along a wide arc including Georgia to brace for strong winds early Tuesday that could bring down trees and cause power outages and flooding. (AP Photo/Texarkana Gazette, Evan Lewis) (12 Oct 2014)

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
July 14, 2026 | 6:30 PM

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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