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California governor declares state of emergency as fires scorch San Diego County

By WTOP Staff

CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency for San Diego County, where at least half a dozen wildfires have forced thousands to flee burning homes.

Firefighters have been contending with temperatures approaching 100 degrees and gusty winds as they try to contain flames fueled by brush and trees left brittle by drought.

No major injuries have been reported, but two firefighters have suffered minor injuries — one heat-related and one from smoke inhalation.

The worst of the fires is in the coastal city of Carlsbad, about 30 miles north of San Diego. The city’s schools have been closed, and officials don’t expect them to reopen until next week.

Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall says the blaze consumed an eight-unit condominium complex and has damaged eight homes and two businesses.

Crews have made progress in stopping the fire’s spread. They estimate it was 10 percent contained Wednesday evening.

Meanwhile, a blaze that broke out Tuesday and forced the evacuation of 20,000 homes in the Rancho Bernardo area is now 50 percent contained.

%@AP Links

253-a-11-(Dave Allen, division chief, Cal Fire, at news conference)-“contained as well”-Cal Fire Division Chief Dave Allen says crews have a long way to go in fighting some of the fires. ((watch for dating)) (14 May 2014)

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255-a-03-(San Diego County. Sheriff is William Gore, at news conference)-“strongly suggest it”-San Diego County Sheriff is William Gore says the risk of fire danger very real. ((watch for dating)) (14 May 2014)

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254-a-10-(Dave Allen, division chief, Cal Fire, at news conference)-“that’s 30 acres”-Cal Fire Division Chief Dave Allen has an update on a couple of the San Diego-area fires, including one of the fires on Camp Pendleton. ((watch for dating)) (14 May 2014)

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256-a-07-(San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, at news conference)-“on high alert”-San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob says residents should listen when told to evacuate. ((watch for dating)) (14 May 2014)

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257-a-09-(San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, at news conference)-“is most unusual”-San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob says winds are increasing the fire danger. (14 May 2014)

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APPHOTO CAJH102: A wildfire approaches homes on Wednesday, May 14, 2014, in San Marcos, Calif. Flames engulfed suburban homes and shot up along canyon ridges in one of the worst of several blazes that broke out Wednesday in Southern California during a second day of a sweltering heat wave, taxing fire crews who fear the scattered fires mark only the beginning of a long wildfire season. (AP Photo/) (14 May 2014)

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APPHOTO CADIU101: Inmates from Oak Glen Fire Camp in Riverside retreat to higher ground as the flames start to move close while they work to control the fire near Oriole Court in Carlsbad, Calif., Wednesday, May 14, 2014. Thousands were asked to evacuate their homes in Carlsbad after the blaze erupted at about 10:34 a.m. Wednesday and spread through rapidly heavy brush before jumping into residential areas. (AP Photo/U-T San Diego, Hayne Palmour IV) (14 May 2014)

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APPHOTO CADIU102: Greg Saska watches the home he had grown up in, burn during a wildfire in Carlsbad, Calif., Wednesday, May 14, 2014. Thousands were asked to evacuate their homes in Carlsbad after the blaze erupted at about 10:34 a.m. Wednesday and spread through rapidly heavy brush before jumping into residential areas. (AP Photo/U-T San Diego, Hayne Palmour IV) (14 May 2014)

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APPHOTO CAGB113: A helicopter drops a fire retardant during a wildfire Wednesday, May 14, 2014, in Carlsbad, Calif. A fast-moving wildfire ignited hillsides and destroyed more than two dozen homes Wednesday in the coastal city of Carlsbad as weary firefighters scrambled to control multiple blazes in Southern California on the second day of a sweltering heat wave. (AP Photo) (14 May 2014)

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APPHOTO CAGB116: A firefighter removes debris in a burned home during a wildfire Wednesday, May 14, 2014, in Carlsbad, Calif. Flames engulfed suburban homes and shot up along canyon ridges in one of the worst of several blazes that broke out Wednesday in Southern California during a second day of a sweltering heat wave, taxing fire crews who fear the scattered fires mark only the beginning of a long wildfire season. (AP Photo) (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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