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Protective order request against Hardy dismissed

By WTOP Staff

STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The woman who alleges Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy assaulted and threatened to kill her said he “just snapped” after an argument over her short-lived relationship with rapper and Charlotte Bobcats minority owner Nelly, according to new court documents released Thursday.

In a Charlotte Police Department warrant worksheet for obtaining an arrest, the woman said she and Hardy lived together until they broke up in March and she moved out.

In the documents, the woman states she and Hardy were trying to reconcile and went out Monday night. They returned to the Hardy’s residence but he was upset over the woman’s relationship with Nelly, whose name is Cornell Haynes Jr.

The court document states that the woman was lying in bed with Hardy when he “just snapped” and then “physically threw her into the floor, and then tossed her into the tile bathtub.”

Earlier Thursday, Charlotte District Court Judge Charlotte Brown dismissed a protective order request by the woman after she failed to show up in court.

After the protective order was dismissed on Thursday, attorney Stephen Goodwin walked out of the courtroom and abruptly announced that he’s no longer representing the woman citing “irreconcilable differences” with his client.

In the new court documents, the woman contends that Hardy “slammed her into a futon that had several guns and machine guns lying on it causing her to cut her arm on the end of one of (the) guns” and “began choking her twice during the assault.”

The documents also state there were visible welts around her collar bone area.

After being thrown on the floor of the bathtub, the document goes on to say the woman then “began to try and defend herself and swung her heeled shoe at the defendant several times to get the defendant off of her.” The woman “started screaming loudly and cursing, and the defendant then started recording her on video and agitating her several times trying to get her to flip out on him.”

Judge Rebecca Thorne Tin, who oversaw Hardy’s first court appearance on Wednesday, also stated in the document that the four-year NFL veteran is to turn over any and all weapons and firearms currently in his possession or which he may have access to as an added condition to his bond.

Goodwin had filed a motion on behalf of the woman on Wednesday, accusing the Pro Bowl defensive end of throwing her on a bed full of guns and threatening to kill her if she went to the media.

The 6-foot-4, 290-pound Hardy is Carolina’s “franchise player” and is set to earn $13.116 million this season.

He was released from jail on $17,000 bond Wednesday, one day after being arrested on charges of assault on a female and communicating threats. While the protective order request has been dismissed, charges against Hardy remain.

Hardy wasn’t present in the courtroom Thursday.

His next court date is set for June 27.

Hardy has not spoken to reporters since his arrest. He was ordered by Tin not to have any contact with the accuser and to attend three Alcoholic Anonymous meetings per week until his next court date.

Hardy’s attorney, Chris Fialko, refuted the woman’s allegations on Wednesday and said that his client was the victim of the abuse.

There were conflicting reports from 911 calls Wednesday night from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.

Hardy tells police in a call that the woman is chasing him around the table with the heel of her shoe and later says she “is on coke or something. I don’t know. She’s been drinking. I don’t know what she’s on, man.”

However, in another 911 call from the condominium complex there is an unidentified woman that tells the operator the accuser is being beaten.

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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