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Less Than Half of Americans Support Death Penalty, Survey Finds

By U.S. News & World Report

Support for the death penalty for convicted murderers is the lowest it’s been since President Richard Nixon was in office, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center.

Just under half of Americans – 49 percent – favor the death penalty for those convicted of murder, while 42 percent oppose it. Support has dropped 7 percent since March 2015. Support for capital punishment peaked in the mid-1990s, when 80 percent of people were in favor and only 16 percent opposed it. The study was conducted from Aug. 23 to Sept. 2 among 1,201 adults.

Opposition hasn’t been this high since 1972, the same year the Supreme Court ruled the death penalty unconstitutional in the landmark Furman v. Georgia decision. The decision voided about 40 death penalty statutes, but allowed states to rewrite their capital punishment laws to eliminate the issues brought up in the case. The Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. The number of executions in the U.S. has steadily declined since 2009, from 52 to 15 so far this year.

In a more detailed report from 2015, Americans expressed doubts on whether the death penalty was applied morally and whether it risked putting innocent people to death.

Support or opposition to the death penalty doesn’t fall along age or educational lines, although according to the poll, younger people with at least some college are more likely to oppose capital punishment.

[READ: These Countries Executed the Most People in 2015]

The discrepancies widen when looking at race and political affiliation. An estimated 55 percent of whites and 72 percent of Republicans favor capital punishment, while only 29 percent of blacks, 36 percent of Hispanics and 34 percent of Democrats support it.

The Supreme Court will hear an appeal this month in the case of Duane Buck, a Texas man convicted of murder in 1997, when public support for the death penalty was at 78 percent. Under Texas law, prosecutors must prove the defendant poses a future danger in order to secure the death penalty. A now-discredited defense expert said the fact that Buck was black increased his future dangerousness. His attorneys argue racial bias played an instrumental role in his sentencing.

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Less Than Half of Americans Support Death Penalty, Survey Finds originally appeared on usnews.com

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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