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Update on the latest in sports:

By WTOP Staff

CLEVELAND (AP) —

NFL-HERNANDEZ/CHARGES

New murder charges for Hernandez

BOSTON (AP) — Prosecutors have announced new murder charges against Aaron Hernandez, saying the former New England Patriots tight end ambushed and shot to death two men following a chance encounter inside a Boston nightclub.

The victims in the July 2012 shooting were killed in a car as they waited at a red light in Boston’s South End neighborhood, a few weeks before Hernandez signed a five-year deal worth about $40 million.

Hernandez is awaiting trial in the separate 2013 shooting death of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd.

Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley said the investigation of the Boston killings moved forward after the Lloyd case, which will be tried separately in another Massachusetts court. He noted the discovery of the car Hernandez was driving the night the men died and the recovery of the alleged murder weapon from an unnamed person with ties to Hernandez.

Conley declined to say whether authorities suspected any connection between the two shootings.

Hernandez’s attorneys say their client is innocent of these charges and looks forward to his day in court,”

COLLEGE BASKETBALL-CONNECTICUT/OLLIE

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — UConn men’s basketball coach Kevin Ollie says he’s not looking for another job despite being linked to several NBA job openings, including with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Ollie just led the Huskies to the national championship in his second season since replacing Jim Calhoun. He says he loves the university and is hoping to work out a new contract with athletic director Warde Manuel. His current deal runs through the end of the 2017-18 season.

NBA PLAYOFFS-SCHEDULE

A Game 6 in two series tonight

UNDATED (AP) — The Pacers and Thunder can advance in the NBA playoffs tonight with wins. The Pacers enter this evening’s Game 6 with Washington leading 3-2. The Wizards kept their hopes alive with a lopsided 102-79 win two nights ago in Indianapolis. Tonight’s game is being played in Washington with Game 7, if needed, taking place Sunday in Indy.

Oklahoma City took a 3-2 series lead over the Clippers two nights ago and can close it out with a win tonight in Los Angeles. If the Clippers get the win on their home court they would force the final game of the series this Sunday in Oklahoma City.

MLB-SCHEDULE

Reds, Brewers win

UNDATED (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds have won Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader this afternoon.

Johnny Cueto (KWAY’-toh) tossed a three-hitter and Brandon Phillips belted a three-run homer as the Reds blanked San Diego 5-0. Cueto improved to 4-2 and lowered his league-leading ERA to 1.25 with his second shutout of the season.

The game was scoreless until Phillips went deep in the fifth inning. Zack Cozart (KOH’-zahrt) added a two-run single in the sixth to cap the scoring against Ian Kennedy, who was tagged for 11 hits in six frames.

Also in the majors:

— Milwaukee beat Pittsburgh 4-3 on a two-run single by Khris Davis in the bottom of the ninth. Rickie Weeks and Martin (mahr-TEEN’) Maldonado hit solo homers as the Brewers improved to 27-15, tying the Giants for the National League’s best record.

MLB-COMMISSIONER SEARCH

Cards chairman leading committee search for new commissioner

NEW YORK (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. will lead the committee to find a successor to baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, who is scheduled to retire in January. The committee already has started meeting and is to identify the candidate or candidates for Major League Baseball’s executive council, which is to make a recommendation to owners. Selig sidestepped whether he would remain as commissioner emeritus, saying details would be worked out in the coming months.

MLB-TRADE

A’s get Blanks from Padres, DFA Barton

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics have acquired outfielder and first baseman Kyle Blanks from the San Diego Padres in exchange for minor league outfielder Jake Goebbert and a player to be named. The A’s designated Daric Barton for assignment to make roster room for Blanks, who is expected to join the team tomorrow in Cleveland.

NFL-BROWNS/AUSTIN

Austin to serve as Gordon insurance

UNDATED (AP) — The Browns have agreed to contract terms with free agent wide receiver Miles Austin, insurance in case Pro Bowler Josh Gordon is suspended.

The two-time Pro Bowler was released by the Dallas Cowboys two months ago in a salary-cap move. The 29-year-old played in just 11 games last season because of injuries.

Miles had his best season in 2009, when he had 81 receptions for 1,320 yards and 11 touchdowns.

ESPN reported last week that Gordon is facing a one-year suspension for failing another drug test.

NFL-BEARS

Bears have all 8 picks under contract

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears already have signed their eight selections from last week’s NFL draft. The last to sign was third-round pick Will Sutton, a defensive tackle from Arizona State.

PGA-BYRON NELSON

Nelson begins

IRVING, Texas (AP) — The first round of the Byron Nelson Championship is being played today in Irving, Texas. Texan Jordan Spieth (speeth) leads the field that includes Matt Kuchar (KOO’-char), Angel Cabrera and Rory Sabbatini.

The host of the tournament, legendary golfer Byron Nelson, passed away in 2006 at the age of 94.

LPGA-KINGSMILL CHAMPIONSHIP

Lewis looks to be No. 1

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) — Stacy Lewis, the winner of the North Texas LPGA Shootout two weeks ago, can take the top spot in the world with a win this weekend in the Kingsmill Championship. The win was the ninth for Lewis in her LPGA career as she finished six shots in front of the field.

Cristie Kerr is the defending champion.

CHAMPIONS TOUR

A major event for the seniors

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — The first round of the Regions Tradition is in progress as players vie for the first of five majors on the Champions Tour. The venue for the event is Shoal Creek in Birmingham, Ala. It’s a Jack Nicklaus-designed course.

The winner of the last event on the tour was Bernhard Langer, who beat Fred Couples by a stroke in the Insperity Invitational. The 56-year-old Langer has 20 wins on the 50-and-over tour.

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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