Skip to main content

Street flooding disrupts travel to US-Germany game

By WTOP Staff

BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer

RECIFE, Brazil (AP) — A tropical downpour flooded roads and prevented families of many U.S. players from making it to Arena Pernambuco for the Americans’ match with Germany on Thursday in the World Cup.

Brazil’s National Institute of Meteorology said more than 3 inches (76 millimeters) of rain fell in Recife between about noon Wednesday and noon Thursday, making conditions difficult for fans trying to get to the stadium.

“It was a bizarre day. We woke up and felt like there was a hurricane last night,” U.S. defender Matt Besler said. “We’re driving in and our bus takes 50 minutes instead of 25. We’re seeing half the town in water and we get to the stadium and we find out that we’re not allowed to warm up on the field.

“It’s something I’ve never done before,” he added. “It’s the biggest game of your life and you can’t get on the field and get touches before the match. All you have to do is run 15 yards up and down the sideline to get ready.”

As kickoff neared, many streets in Recife were submerged in ankle- to thigh-high water. Several cars were stalled on multilane thoroughfares and cabs were hard to come by.

U.S. soccer officials said some of the buses carrying players’ family members left early enough to make it to the stadium, but some stopped at a restaurant to watch the match instead. Some players’ relatives, such as the wife and baby daughter of U.S. forward Chris Wondolowski, decided not to leave the hotel.

“In the back of your mind — about your family not being able to make it to the game because of the traffic and everything — you just want to make sure that they’re safe,” U.S. forward Clint Dempsey said. “There were a lot of factors going into today’s game that made it a difficult one for both teams, really, because of the conditions and not being able to get a normal warm-up.”

American midfielder Graham Zusi said he didn’t find out until after the game that his family hadn’t made it.

Knowing how difficult it was to make it to the stadium left players all the more gratified by the support they received from those who made it.

“I was listening to my music and I was looking out the window and I saw plenty of U.S. fans trekking their way to the stadium,” defender Omar Gonzalez said. “That kind of passion to root us on really helped to drive us.”

Despite the road problems, the stadium was mostly full. Many fans used the city’s subway and had no trouble getting to the arena on time.

Germany won the match 1-0, but the U.S. kept it close enough to advance to the second round on goal differential after finishing tied with Portugal for second in the group with four points.

___

Associated Press sports writer Janie McCauley contributed to this report.

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote