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Politics Roundup: Leggett and Frosh Buddy Up, Duncan’s New Ad

By WTOP Staff

Photo via Isiah Leggett Campaign

Frosh, Leggett Exchange Endorsements At Leisure World – Brian Frosh and Isiah Leggett headed to the vote-rich Leisure World retirement community to exchange endorsements over the weekend.

Frosh, the District 16 State Senator, is in a tough primary battle for attorney general. Leggett was among the first of many prominent elected officials to endorse him for the job. But even with the backing of much of the state’s Democratic establishment, Frosh is finding it hard to crack through in the polls against the name value of Baltimore County Del. Jon Cardin, the nephew of U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin.

“Brian Frosh is the gold standard of public service,” Leggett said at the Saturday press conference. “In his more than 28 years in the General Assembly, he has passed laws that make Maryland safer, increased environmental protections and consumer protections, and has made it easier for victims of domestic violence to get the protection they need from our courts. He is a qualified leader, who will make an excellent Attorney General.”

Leggett, running for reelection against former county executive Doug Duncan and Councilmember Phil Andrews, seems to be faring better with three weeks until primary day. Frosh talked about Leggett’s handling of the county’s budget during the recession.

“Ike is someone who had the courage and intelligence to make tough, decisive choices at the beginning of the recession,” Frosh said. “And because of those decisions, he has enabled our county to emerge stronger and recover sooner than surrounding jurisdictions. That is something we should all be grateful for and we should express our gratitude on June 24.”

Duncan’s New Ad Has Same Focus – Duncan’s campaign this week released its newest ad, which looks and feels a lot like its first one. Duncan is standing in front of the Silver Spring Transit Center again and again emphasizing his leadership qualities.

This time, Duncan opened with before and after shots of downtown Silver Spring, the revitalization project he spearheaded during this first three terms as county executive. Like in the first commercial, he claimed there is “no plan” to open the Transit Center, despite the news last week that repairs would start up this week. The county hopes to have repairs done by the end of the year and hand over the facility to WMATA, which will operate it.

Chevy Chase County Executive Forum – Andrews, Duncan and Leggett have participated in dozens of forums and debates over the last few months. Will the one set for Sunday in Chevy Chase hold any surprises? The event, sponsored by the towns and municipalities of Chevy Chase, is set for Sunday at 2 p.m. at the National 4-H Center (7100 Connecticut Ave.)

Photo via Isiah Leggett Campaign

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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