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Israeli strike kills 4 Gaza youths on coastal road

By WTOP Staff

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — The uncle of four Palestinian boys who were killed in an Israeli naval strike today is calling it a “cold-blooded massacre.”

The four — ages 9 to 11 — were killed during the bombardment of a coastal area in the Gaza Strip. Israel says it’s investigating what happened.

The boys’ uncle says “with all of the advanced technology they claim they’re using,” Israel should have been able to identify them as kids. A Palestinian doctor says the four boys were killed while playing on a beach off a coastal road west of Gaza City. Seven others were wounded in the strike. A Palestinian activist says it came from an Israeli naval vessel operating offshore.

Israeli warplanes also intensified attacks across the Gaza Strip today, targeting senior Hamas leaders. The airstrikes targeted 30 houses — including those of some senior Hamas leaders.

Hamas, meanwhile, fired dozens of additional rockets into Israel. A Hamas official says the militant group feels “alone in the field” with little support from the Arab world. He wants Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to support the Hamas rejection of a cease-fire proposed by Egypt.

%@AP Links

201-a-14-(Josh Earnest, White House press secretary, at news conference)-“soon as possible”-White House press secretary Josh Earnest says the U.S. is alarmed by the rising death toll in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. (16 Jul 2014)

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175-a-10-(Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at news conference with the visiting Italian foreign minister)-“of the violence”-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blames Hamas for all deaths an injuries from rocket fire. (16 Jul 2014)

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179-r-15-(Sound of mourners, at a funeral rally for five Palestinians killed overnight Tuesday)–Sound of hundreds of Palestinians marching through the streets in one of the many funeral processions in Gaza since the exchange of rocket-fire between Gaza and Israel began more than a week ago. (16 Jul 2014)

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APPHOTO AXLP156: Palestinians flee their homes in the Shajaiyeh neighborhood of Gaza City, after Israel had airdropped leaflets warning people to leave the area, Wednesday, July 16, 2014. Alongside the air strikes, Israel also ordered tens of thousands of residents of the northern town of Beit Lahiya and the Zeitoun and Shijaiyah neighborhoods of Gaza City, all near the border with Israel, to evacuate their homes by 8 a.m. Wednesday. The warnings were delivered in automated phone calls, text messages and leaflets. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (16 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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