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Family of Ga. boy hurt in raid want federal review

By WTOP Staff

KATHLEEN FOODY
Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia family and lawmakers are demanding that federal authorities investigate the case of a toddler severely injured by a flash grenade during a drug raid.

Bounkham Phonesavanh — a 19-month-old nicknamed “Bou Bou” — remained in a medically induced coma on Tuesday. Habersham County District Attorney Brian Rickman said his office is investigating to determine whether any officers will face criminal charges.

Police have said officers were searching for a potentially armed drug suspect at the home and did not know children were inside when they rammed the door and dropped a flash grenade inside the door. The grenade landed in the sleeping boy’s playpen, according to both authorities and the boy’s family. The grenades create a bright flash and loud noise and are commonly used by law enforcement to distract or stun suspects.

Georgia state Sen. Vincent Fort, who has sponsored legislation in the past to limit “no-knock” warrants that allow authorities to burst into a home without warning, said he plans to ask the U.S. Attorney to review the case.

“At this point when you look at these pictures, when you hear what was done, the public’s confidence in the district attorney to conduct an objective investigation — the public’s confidence in that is nil, it’s gone, it’s not there,” Fort said.

The district attorney collected no evidence at the home, so the family has hired an investigator to do so, said their attorney, Mawuli Mel Davis.

Rickman said his office is still gathering statements, photographs and other evidence from agencies involved with the raid and would like to speak with the Phonesavanh family. The raid had not been cleared by either the district attorney or the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, despite Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell’s earlier statements to the contrary, Rickman said. A call to Terrell’s office on Monday was not returned.

“Anytime you look at pictures of a child injured like that, it’s awful,” Rickman said. “Everybody’s heart goes out to the family. We’ve just got to do our job here.”

The boy’s father and mother, Bounkham and Alecia Phonesavanh, left their son briefly on Monday to thank supporters during a prayer rally outside the Atlanta hospital where he is being treated. The parents wrapped their arms around each other’s shoulders and held hands with their three daughters, all wearing pink. Church leaders and other supporters stood around them, holding pictures of the toddler before and after the raid that injured him.

“Thank you for your prayers, everybody,” Bounkham Phonesavanh said quietly. “Thank you.”

The boy was scheduled to have surgery on Monday until he developed a fever that delayed the procedure, Alecia Phonesavanh said.

Police were looking for Wanis Thonetheva, 30, who they believed lived at the home based on a confidential informant who had recently bought drugs there. Thonetheva was not in the home when police raided it early Wednesday morning. He was arrested later and charged with distribution of methamphetamine.

The Phonesavanh family was staying with family after their Wisconsin home was damaged in a fire. Thonetheva is Bounkham Phonesavanh’s nephew, but the Phonesavanhs were not involved with drugs, Davis said during Monday’s rally.

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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