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Denver accepts tweaks to pot-themed concerts

By WTOP Staff

DENVER (AP) — Denver is pleased with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra’s efforts to align its bring-your-own-cannabis fundraising concerts with laws that authorize — but still regulate — marijuana use in Colorado, the city attorney said Wednesday.

“We are pleased the (symphony) revisited their planned events and worked to come into compliance with state and city laws,” city attorney Scott Martinez said in a brief statement issued by Mayor Michael Hancock’s office.

Earlier, Martinez had expressed concern that audiences were going to smoke marijuana in public, which is illegal even though selling and consuming marijuana has been legal under Colorado law since January. On Tuesday, the symphony said three events first announced in April, dubbed Classically Cannabis and scheduled to kick off later this month at a private Denver gallery, would be invitation-only. The symphony also removed information about the events from its website and is refunding tickets purchased already.

“From the beginning, our goals have been to support fundraising for the Colorado Symphony and to reach out to a culturally diverse audience,” Jerome H. Kern, the symphony’s chief executive office, said in a statement Tuesday.

The symphony says it expects to raise nearly $200,000 from Classically Cannabis. The first concert, on May 23, will feature a brass ensemble composed of symphony members. No program has been announced for any of the concerts, including a second one on July 18 and the last on Aug. 15.

Jane West, whose Edible Events Co. is organizing the series and brought in marijuana companies as sponsors, has said concertgoers would have to be at least 21 years old and would be able to consume pot in a separate area at the gallery.

In addition to the three gallery shows, a Classically Cannabis concert is scheduled for September at Red Rocks, an amphitheater outside Denver where the symphony and pop and rock groups play. Symphony officials had stressed from the beginning that marijuana consumption would not be allowed at Red Rocks, which is owned by the city and county of Denver.

The Colorado symphony, like classical music groups across the country, has been struggling to shore up finances and attract a broader audience. Past efforts have included a concert featuring scores from science fiction movies, television series and video games that was billed as a tribute to the pop culture festival known as Comic Con.

The pot series isn’t the first where symphony audience members can expect to have their IDs checked. The symphony’s Beethoven and Brews events bring musicians to a trendy Denver hotel bar to play as local breweries offer tastings.

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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