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Charges dropped against principal accused of fire

By WTOP Staff

KEVIN BURBACH
Associated Press

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A judge on Monday dismissed charges against a former principal who was accused of setting fire to his private North Dakota high school in March, a week after a ruling that statements the defendant made to police were improperly obtained and couldn’t be used at his trial.

Southwest District Judge William Herauf dismissed the case against 30-year-old Thomas Sander without prejudice, which means the state could still decide to bring charges against him later. Prosecutors had filed a motion to drop the charges last week.

Sander had pleaded not guilty to felony arson and endangerment by fire in a blaze that forced the closure of Trinity High School, a Roman Catholic school in Dickinson.

At a July 1 hearing, Herauf threw out some police interviews with Sander and ruled that Sander was not read his rights before part of a police interrogation and that some of his statements were coerced.

Stark County State’s Attorney Tom Henning said without the evidence, it was unlikely the prosecution could get a conviction. But he said the dismissed charges now allow for more facts to come out.

“In my opinion, it’s far preferable it go as a dismissal that allows refiling of the case with new evidence within the statute of limitations than simply to have it come up with a not guilty verdict by a jury with inadequate information,” Henning said.

Lloyd Suhr, one of Sander’s defense attorneys, said Monday that his firm was pleased the state had decided not to pursue the case any further.

“You have to have evidence before you can prosecute and they had no remaining evidence against Mr. Sander,” Suhr said, “which I think highlights the problems with the alleged confessions to begin with.”

Suhr said the case has been difficult for Sander and his family.

Sander’s father moved to Dickinson and began renting a house after his son was charged, Suhr said. He posted the $50,000 bail for his son and the former principal was released on the condition he stay in the custody of his father.

Suhr said he wasn’t sure about the family’s immediate plans now that Sander is free.

“They literally uprooted their whole lives so that they could address these charges and now that the charges have been dismissed they’re obviously excited to return to some state of normalcy, as much as can be expected following something like this,” Suhr said.

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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