Capital Crescent Trail closed again

By WTOP Staff
May 16, 2014 | 12:31 PM

WASHINGTON – A portion of the Capital Crescent Trail is closed again because of a suspected sewage spill.

Heavy rains caused untreated sanitary sewage to spill into the Potomac River and possibly over part of the trail and into the C&O Canal overnight.

DC Water is investigating whether there was a spill on the trail and what could have caused the sewage release. During heavy rain events, sewage is typically released into the river, not the canal or trail.

The National Park Service says the trail is closed from Fletchers Cove into Georgetown at Water Street, the same section that was closed earlier this month due to contaminated flood waters.

“It is important to keep in mind that (river) water levels in our area aren’t expected to peak until (Saturday) afternoon,” says service spokeswoman Jenny Anzelmo.

The Potomac River is expected to crest at 10 feet Saturday afternoon and river-users should to take precautions before entering the water, she says.

The C&O Tow Path could be used as alternate to the trail, however the tow path tends to flood and may not be accessible.

The same stretch of trail was closed for more than 10 days after April 30 storms deluged the region and 5 million gallons of raw sewage were released.

DC Water has a $2.6 billion project that will increase capacity within its combined sewer system, which acts as both a storm drain and a sewer pipe. Giant storage tunnels are also planned to hold runoff and avoid releasing raw sewage into the river when it rains.

Sewage overflow reported in Damascus

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission says that some sewage was released from a manhole cover in the area of Kings Valley Road in Damascus Friday morning. The nearby pumping station was overwhelmed by the intense rain

Some of the sewage entered the Little Bennnett Creek, which is part of the Monocacy River basin.

About 45,000 gallons were released.

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WTOP’s Megan Cloherty contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter and on Facebook.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
July 14, 2026 | 6:30 PM

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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