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Recalls this week: magnetic boards, bicycles

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

A line of magnetic boards with the goal of teaching children colors and sorting skills is being recalled because small metal balls pose a choking hazard and contain a potentially dangerous amount of lead. Other products recalled this week include faulty lanterns and bicycles.

Here’s a more detailed look:

CHILDREN’S MAGNETIC BOARDS

DETAILS: Excellerations magnetic color sorting boards with cupcake cut-outs that are used to teach color and sorting to young children. The recalled sorting board is made of plywood and is 16 inches wide and 12 inches high and has the Excellerations name and logo on the front in the bottom right corner. A clear plastic cover is attached to the board by rivets and a 4-inch long wand with a magnet in one end is attached to the top of the board by a 13.5-inch plastic cord. The face of the board has one jar-shaped cut-out and six cupcake-shaped cut-outs that are colored red, yellow, blue, green, orange and purple. Beneath the cover are about 60 multi-colored metal balls, each 1 centimeter in diameter. The boards were sold at Discountschoolsupply.com from January 2013 through March 2014.

WHY: The magnet in the wand can detach and the plywood backing can crack and release small metal balls that are sandwiched between the board and a clear plastic cover. These pose choking and serious internal injury risks associated with ingestion of a magnet and metal ball. The surface paint on the metal balls contains levels of lead that exceed the federal lead paint standard.

INCIDENTS: Six reports of the plywood backing cracking and making the small metal balls accessible to children, and two reports of the magnet detaching from the wand. No injuries have been reported.

HOW MANY: About 3,700.

FOR MORE: Call Discount School Supply at 800-338-4430 or visit www.discountschoolsupply.com, and click on “Safety Information” for more information.

BICYCLES

DETAILS: 2014 Cannondale Tandem Bicycles, road 1, road 2 and 29 tandem. The road 1 and 29 tandem bicycles were sold in black with white graphics and the road 2 was sold in white with red and black graphics. “Cannondale” and “T1” or “T2” are printed on the aluminum frame bicycle. The 29 model is a mountain bike with 29-inch wheels and a 29 graphic decal affixed to the frame. They were sold at authorized Cannondale dealers from October 2013 to December 2013.

WHY: The bicycle fork can break and cause the riders to lose control, posing a risk of injury.

INCIDENTS: Cycling Sports Groups has received two reports of loose steerer tubes. No injuries have been reported.

HOW MANY: About 80.

FOR MORE: Call Cycling Sports Group at 800-726-2453 or send email to custserve@cyclingsportsgroup.com.

TRUNKS

DETAILS: The Aman Trunk, which is a wooden storage trunk measuring 38 inches wide by 18 inches high by 18 inches deep. A sticker attached to the bottom of trunk has a UPC bar code numbered 24441018 and one of the following PO numbers: 200450992, 200450994, 200450995, 400450998 or 400450999. They were sold at Cost Plus World Market stores nationwide and online at www.worldmarket.com from August 2013 to November 2013.

WHY: The surface coating paint on the interior metal chains contains excessive levels of lead, a violation of the federal lead paint standard.

INCIDENTS: None reported.

HOW MANY: About 1,150.

FOR MORE: Call Cost Plus World Market at 877-967-5362 or visit www.worldmarket.com and click on “Product Recalls” at the bottom of the page for more information.

LANTERNS

DETAILS: Northstar liquid fuel lanterns with model number 2000B750 and date codes 10 13 or 11 13. The model number is printed on the base of the lantern, under the lighting instructions. The date code is stamped on the underside of the lantern. A Coleman logo sticker is affixed to the front of the lantern base. They were sold at sporting goods stores nationwide and online at coleman.com from November 2013 through February 2014.

WHY: An incorrect gas feed tube was installed on the lantern. When lit, the tube can release too much fuel, posing fire and burn hazards.

INCIDENTS: Two reports of lanterns catching fire when fuel unexpectedly leaked from the bottom of the unit. No injuries have been reported.

HOW MANY: About 95.

FOR MORE: Call The Coleman Co. Inc. at 800-835-3278, send email to consumerservice@coleman.com, or visit www.coleman.com and click on “Important Safety Information” for more information.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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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