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Israel thwarts Hamas sea attack, missiles fired at Tel Aviv; Palestinian death toll rises

By WTOP Staff

JERUSALEM (AP) — Fighting between Israel and Hamas continues to escalate, with the Israeli military launching what could be a long-term offensive in the Gaza Strip today and Hamas firing a missile at Tel Aviv and trying to attack by sea.

The Israeli operation is in response to rocket fire that has reached deeper into its territory in recent days. The Israeli military today hit more than 100 sites in the Gaza Strip. And it’s ready to call up to 40,000 reservists for a possible ground invasion to end the Palestinian barrage.

Palestinian medical officials say at least 15 Palestinians, including three children, were killed in the Israeli attacks from air and sea.

The Israeli military says it has foiled an attempt by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip to infiltrate southern Israel by sea. A military spokesman said four attackers armed with hand grenades and assault rifles were killed today, shortly after coming ashore. One Israeli soldier was lightly injured.

Air raid sirens went off in Tel Aviv, Israel’s commercial capital, which sits about 45 miles north of the Gaza Strip. An explosion was heard shortly afterward. Israeli TV stations are reporting that Israel’s “Iron Dome” defense system intercepted the rocket. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

%@AP Links

159-c-16-(Aron Heller, AP correspondent)-“the rocket attacks”-AP correspondent Aron Heller reports the Israeli military has been given the go-ahead to mobilize up to 40,000 reservists as it steps up an offensive in the Gaza Strip. (8 Jul 2014)

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162-c-20-(Aron Heller, AP correspondent)-“the Gaza Strip”-AP correspondent Aron Heller reports the back and forth between Gaza-based militants and the Israeli military is quite familiar to Palestinians and Israelis. (8 Jul 2014)

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201-r-22-(Sound of sirens and muffled recorded warning, as people rushed to take shelter)–Sound of sirens and a muffled recorded warning for people to seek shelter. (8 Jul 2014)

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180-r-17-(Sound of people shouting and screaming, as the fled an area near an Israeli missile strike)–Sound of shouting and screaming people fleeing running from the site of an Israeli military missile strike that Israel says targeted the home of a Hamas operative involved in earlier rocket fire aimed at southern Israel. (8 Jul 2014)

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199-a-17-(Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner, spokesman, Israel Defense Forces, in AP interview)-“the unfortunate result”-Peter Lerner of the Israeli Defense Forces says they wanted to avoid civilian casualties before firing on a position that left Palestinian civilians, including children, dead. (8 Jul 2014)

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200-a-17-(Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner, spokesman, Israel Defense Forces, in interview)-“we are required”-Israel Defense Forces spokesman Peter Lerner says rockets fired by Hamas militants in Gaza pose a terrifying threat to Israelis and require a strong military response. COURTESY: Sky News ((mandatory on-air credit)) (8 Jul 2014)

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181-r-11-(Sound of shouting people, at site of an Israeli military missile strike)–Sound of shouting people frantically trying to rescue victims of an Israeli military missile strike that Israel says was aimed at the home of a Hamas operative. (8 Jul 2014)

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170-a-15-(Mark Regev (REH’-gehv), spokesman, Israeli prime minister’s office, in AP interview)-“and for all”-Mark Regev, the spokesman for the Israeli prime minister, says Israel has good cause to launch its offensive in Gaza after another volley of rocket fire into southern Israel. (8 Jul 2014)

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161-c-20-(Aron Heller, AP correspondent)-“of rocket attack”-AP correspondent Aron Heller reports there is significant pressure on the Israeli government to do something about the rockets fired from Gaza. (8 Jul 2014)

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APPHOTO DV801: People take shelter in a basement of a hotel in Tel Aviv as air-raid sirens sounded alert after a missile was fired from the Gaza Strip, Tuesday, July 8, 2014. The Israeli military launched what could be a long-term offensive in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Tuesday, striking sites and mobilizing troops for a possible ground invasion in what Israel says is an operation aimed at stopping a heavy barrage of rocket attacks. (AP Photo/Tomer Appelbaum) ISRAEL OUT (10 Jul 2013)

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APPHOTO HM112: Palestinians bring a wounded man to a hospital in Gaza City, Tuesday, July 8, 2014. The Israeli military launched what could be a long-term offensive against the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Tuesday striking nearly 100 sites in Gaza and mobilizing troops for a possible ground invasion aimed at stopping a heavy barrage of rocket attacks against Israel. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) (8 Jul 2014)

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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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