Search for missing 8-year-old expands

By WTOP Staff
March 20, 2014 | 3:24 AM

WASHINGTON — The search for 8-year-old Relisha Rudd has expanded, as D.C. police have alerted the Richmond area that the missing girl may be in central Virginia.

Richmond Police scrambled to distribute Rudd’s photo to local media, after D.C. police contacted them saying they had information leading them to believe she could be there.

Meanwhile, the truck linked to the little girl’s disappearance was located in Prince George’s County.

Police say Rudd was with Kahlil Malik Tatum in a white 1976 GMC truck with Maryland license plate 305015. The truck was found in Hyattsville, Md., but police have not yet released details about where they located the truck.

The Amber Alert for Rudd remains in effect. Police say they believe that Tatum is armed and dangerous.

Police issued the alert for Rudd Thursday afternoon — hours after Prince George’s County police found the remains of a woman at an Oxon Hill, Md., motel on a tip related to the search for the girl.

The woman, whose name has not yet been released, had sustained trauma to her body and police are investigating her death as a homicide. Officials aren’t saying whether her killing is connected to Rudd’s disappearance.

D.C. police asked Prince George’s County police officers to check the Red Roof Inn in the 6100 block of Oxon Hill Road Thursday morning as part of the search for Rudd. Officers checked several rooms before coming across the woman’s body.

The Associated Press reports that Rudd was last seen Feb. 26 at a shelter in Southeast D.C. Police say she was picked up by someone her family knew, but wasn’t returned.

D.C. police describe the girl as black, 4 feet tall, 70 to 80 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes and a medium complexion. She may be in need of medication.

Police says Tatum is about 5-foot, 9-inches tall and 200 pounds.

Anyone who finds or spots Rudd is asked to call 911 or the Command Information Center at 202-727-9099.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter and WTOP on Facebook.

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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