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Region readies for winter weather

By WTOP Staff

WASHINGTON – Snowmageddon. The Commute from Hell.

The last two years have featured treacherous weather in the D.C. region that’s spawned not only nicknames but traffic snarls, power outages and fury at Old Man Winter himself (not to mention the federal government.)

But with today marking the start of meteorological winter, area transportation departments say they’re ready for the season’s worst.

D.C.’s Department of Public Works says it now has contracts in place for heavy equipment that will help city crews clear large amounts of snow, which was a big problem during the back-to-back blizzards of 2010 that led President Barack Obama and others to dub the storms “Snowmageddon.”

The District’s snow team is made up of more than 700 members and nearly 250 pieces of equipment, and was deployed 20 times during last year’s snow season. Find out more about DPW’s snow removal system here.

In Virginia, state Department of Transportation spokesperson Tamara Rollison says they’ve set aside more money for treating and plowing this year, thanks to the flakes that have fallen during the last two.

“The snow budget…for this winter is $126 million — that’s a $20 million increase over last year’s budget because we’ve had heavier than predicted snowfalls over the last two years,” Rollison says.

VDOT also is urging people to stay off the roads when bad weather threatens. Rollison adds now is the time for motorists to stock up on emergency supplies to stow in the car in case they get stranded.

“You may be in your car when a storm hits, it’s just a situation you can’t help,” she says. “This is the time to prepare yourself.”

Click here for more winter weather tips from VDOT.

In Maryland, meanwhile, the State Highway Administration has unveiled a new tool to fight heavy snowfall this season: The “tow plow” can clear two lanes in one pass.

A standard dump truck with a plow costs $150,000. The tow plow attachment costs $86,000, or about 57 percent of the cost of a second truck.

And as for the feds? They’ve rolled out changes to their snow policy to help avoid any more anti-government angst.

WTOP’s Michelle Basch contributed to this report. Follow Michelle and WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2011 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

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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