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Anger, grief swell in Turkey after 274 coal miners die; Many blame PM Erdogan and his govt

By WTOP Staff

SOMA, Turkey (AP) — High gas concentrations have brought rescue operations to a halt inside a coal mine in western Turkey following a deadly explosion and fire.

So far, the bodies of 274 miners have been recovered. The fate of another 150 remains unclear.

Teams are trying to vent carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide from the mine and pump clean air in.

Tuesday’s disaster has generated anger and despair in the town of Soma, about 150 miles south of Istanbul. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (REH’-jehp TY’-ihp UR’-doh-wahn) traveled to the town to show concern today, but didn’t help his reputation when he noted that workplace accidents are “ordinary things” that happen in many countries. He was heckled and forced to seek refuge in a supermarket, surrounded by police.

Anti-government protests also erupted in Istanbul and the capital, Ankara.

%@AP Links

188-a-11-(Jay Carney, White House press secretary, at news conference)-“time of tragedy”-White House press secretary Jay Carney says Americans are grieving with their Turkish allies. (14 May 2014)

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187-a-09-(Jay Carney, White House press secretary, at news conference)-“the remaining miners”-White House press secretary Jay Carney says the American people’s hearts are going out to Turkey because of the mine disaster. (14 May 2014)

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185-r-14-(Sound of hundreds of protestors jeering and kicking vehicle of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (REH’-jehp TY’-ihp UR’-doh-wahn), near mine entrance in Soma, Turkey)–Sound of hundreds of protestors jeering Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as his car is jostled, kicked and slowed to a near stop during a visit to Soma, site of a deadly mine explosion. COURTESY: Turkish Anadolu News Agency ((mandatory on-air credit)) (14 May 2014)

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186-r-13-(Sound of crowd booing and jeering, as Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (REH’-jehp TY’-ihp UR’-doh-wahn) walks with a security entourage)–Sound of crowd booing, jeering and chanting “Resign!” as the Turkish prime minister walks with a security entourage near the site of the deadly mine accident. COURTESY: Turkish Anadolu News Agency ((mandatory on-air credit)) (14 May 2014)

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154-a-12-(Sally Leivesley (LEEVS’-lee), catastrophic and extreme risk consultant, in interview)-“be looked at”-Sally Leivesley, a risk assessment consultant, says the coal being mined in Soma is a dirty and risky substance requiring significant safety measures that may not have been in place in the Turkish mine. COURTESY: Sky News ((mandatory on-air credit)) (14 May 2014)

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156-a-14-(Sally Leivesley (LEEVS’-lee), catastrophic and extreme risk consultant, in interview)-“to be investigated”-Sally Leivesley, a risk assessment consultant, says a modern mining operation should have been able to curb the number of casualties. COURTESY: Sky News ((mandatory on-air credit)) (14 May 2014)

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157-a-11-(Sally Leivesley (LEEVS’-lee), catastrophic and extreme risk consultant, in interview)-“an oxygenated environment”-Sally Leivesley, a risk assessment consultant, says officials must now be making minute-by-minute appraisals of conditions to decide whether it’s worth risking rescuers’ lives for miners who may not be alive. COURTESY: Sky News ((on-air credit)) (14 May 2014)

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141-a-15-(Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (REH’-jehp TY’-ihp UR’-doh-wahn), speaking through interpreter, in speech declaring three days of mourning in Turkey)-“of the debris”-Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan asks everyone to pray for the victims and their families. COURTESY: Sky News ((mandatory on-air credit)) (14 May 2014)

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APPHOTO ANK170: Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, center right, is surrounded by security members as he visits the coal mine in Soma, Turkey, Wednesday, May 14, 2014. An explosion and fire at the coal mine killed at least 232 workers, authorities said, in one of the worst mining disasters in Turkish history. Turkey’s Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said 787 people were inside the coal mine at the time of the accident. (AP Photo/Emre Tazegul) (14 May 2014)

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APPHOTO ANK187: Riot police try to stop protesters who were attacking the offices of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party, in Soma, Turkey, during his visit to the coal mine in Soma Wednesday, May 14, 2014. A violent protest erupted Wednesday in the Turkish city of Soma, where at least 238 coal miners have died after a mine explosion as many in the crowd expressed anger at Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government, rocks were thrown and some people were shouting that Erdogan was a “Murderer!” and a “Thief!”(AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) (14 May 2014)

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APPHOTO ANK192: The rows of open tenantless graves are prepared for the mine accident victims in Soma, Turkey, Wednesday, May 14, 2014. Nearly 450 miners were rescued, the mining company said, but the fate of an unknown number of others remained unclear as bodies are still being brought to the surface and burials are underway after one of the world’s deadliest mining disasters. (AP Photo/Emre Tazegul) (14 May 2014)

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APPHOTO ANK212: In this photo released by the Turkish Prime Minister’s Press Office, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is surrounded by security members as he visits the coal mine in Soma, Turkey, Wednesday, May 14, 2014. Nearly 450 miners were rescued, the mining company said, but the fate of an unknown number of others remained unclear as bodies are still being brought to the surface and burials are underway after one of the world’s deadliest mining disasters. (AP Photo/Kayhan Ozer, Turkish Prime Minister’s Press Office, HO) (14 May 2014)

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APPHOTO ANK206: People attend a mine accident victim’s burial in Soma, Turkey, Wednesday, May 14, 2014. Nearly 450 miners were rescued, the mining company said, but the fate of an unknown number of others remained unclear as bodies are still being brought to the surface and burials are underway after one of the world’s deadliest mining disasters. (AP Photo/Emre Tazegul) (14 May 2014)

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APPHOTO ANK202: People attend a mine accident victim’s burial in Soma, Turkey, Wednesday, May 14, 2014. Nearly 450 miners were rescued, the mining company said, but the fate of an unknown number of others remained unclear as bodies are still being brought to the surface and burials are underway after one of the world’s deadliest mining disasters. (AP Photo/Emre Tazegul) (14 May 2014)

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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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