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AP-AM Prep-Kickers

By The Associated Press

       MORNING PREP - MORNING PREP - MORNING PREP - MORNING PREP       

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! KICKERS !

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RESTAURANT MANAGER FIRED-ROBBERY

CHANNELVIEW, Texas (AP) — A Popeyes manager in Texas is being offered her job back — after she was fired following a robbery. Marissa Holcomb says she was canned because she wouldn’t pay back the nearly 400 bucks stolen by an armed bandit. The franchise owner said Holcomb had violated company policy, by keeping too much cash in the register. Holcomb is pregnant and has three children. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen’s corporate office says they regret the way the situation was handled. Holcomb tells KHOU-TV she isn’t sure if she’ll return.

MRS DOUBTFIRE BANDIT-ARRESTED

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — Authorities in Northern California say they’ve nabbed the “Mrs. Doubtfire” bank robber. She is a he, who carried a purse and wore a wig. Police in Santa Cruz report busting Brandon Alfred Calantoc in connection with car rip-offs. Investigators say the break in the Mrs. Doubtfire case came when they found a purse and other items in Calantoc’s car. The Santa Cruz Sentinel reports he is the suspect in the robbery of a US Bank branch.

UNIVERSAL ORLANDO-METAL DETECTORS

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — No keys, no phones, no loose change. Visitors to the Universal Orlando theme park will have to go through metal detectors before they can ride the roller coasters. Park spokesman Tom Schroder says it’s in response to what people are carrying in their pockets these days. He tells the Orlando Sentinel keys, phones and the like have no place on high-speed rides. Guests can store their items in free lockers at the coasters.

GIANT NUTCRACKER-OWLS

ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) — It’s nuts! A giant nutcracker in Oregon isn’t going anywhere. Workers were to begin dismantling the four-storey-tall nutcracker this week. But federally protected barn owls are nesting there. So, the Roseburg News-Review reports the nutcracker stays in a park for now. The massive device is used to crack coconuts during a local festival of lights.

TREE HUGGING RECORD

JOHNSTON, R.I. (AP) — Calling all tree-huggers. An environmental group in Rhode Island hopes to break the Guinness tree-hugging record tomorrow. The Rhode Island Tree Council wants at least 1,202 people to show up at Roger Williams Park. More than one person can hug the same tree, but it must be large enough so they don’t touch one another. WPRO-AM reports the current tree-hugging record was set in South Korea.

TRAFFIC STOP-BABY DELIVERY

BROOKLINE, Mass. (AP) — What started as a traffic stop ended with a roadside delivery. A suburban Boston police officer played midwife after pulling over a car for running a red light. Brookline officer Rafaela Carlisle-Swedberg says the driver told her his pregnant wife was going into labor. The officer followed after the couple declined an ambulance. But they didn’t make it to a hospital. They pulled over and waved the officer down. Police say Carlisle-Swedberg went to the passenger door and helped deliver a baby girl. Mother and baby are doing fine. Carlisle-Swedberg tells WCVB-TV it’s the first time she’s helped in a delivery.

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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