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For G-8 summit: No additional road closures are expected

By WTOP Staff

Officials expect no additional long-term road closures associated with this weekend’s G-8 summit, Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins said.

Current plans will close Md. 77 between Pryor Road and Tower Road from 9 a.m. Friday until 9 p.m. Saturday. Catoctin Hollow Road will be closed at the entrance to Cunningham Falls State Park, which will also be closed.

Residents with proper identification will be permitted to access their homes in the affected areas, Maryland State Police said.

But Jenkins said as of Wednesday no further closures are anticipated.

“Right now with our plans those are the only road closures we’ve planned,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins said U.S. 15 will be open, but parts could be blocked off temporarily if motorcades associated with the summit need to pass through on their way to Camp David.

“It would just be for enough time to allow the motorcade to come through,” he said.

But Jenkins said he couldn’t comment on whether attendees would be taken to Camp David via motorcade or by air.

“That’s all situationally dependent on the Secret Service,” said Seamus Mooney, the county’s director of emergency preparedness.

Mooney said residents and visitors should expect traffic to move more slowly than normal in the northern part of the county, and that protesters could have an additional effect on traffic.

“It depends on how many of them are coming,” Mooney said.

The restricted airspace around Camp David has been extended by an additional 30 miles, overlapping Washington’s restricted airspace, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The traditional 10-mile airspace surrounding the presidential retreat is off-limits to all but military aircraft supporting the Secret Service and the office of the president, but aircraft will be permitted in the 30-mile outer ring under limited circumstances.

“All aircraft operating within the outer ring(s) listed above are limited to aircraft arriving or departing local airfields, and workload permitting, ATC may authorize transit operations,” an FAA news release states.

Benet Wilson, spokeswoman for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, said her organization has been sending out information to members reminding them of the restrictions. Wilson also said the area celebration of National Learn to Fly Day, which is Saturday, has been postponed until June 2.

“We will not be having ours along with the rest of the country,” Wilson said.

Also on Tuesday, Jenkins and representatives of Maryland Midland Railway confirmed that a freight train line that runs along Md. 550 will operate as normal. The train, which carries cement and lumber products, makes a run from Union Bridge at about 9:30 a.m. Friday and returns between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., Jenkins said. The train does not run on weekends.

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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