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Legislative probe on bridge traffic jams slows

By WTOP Staff

GEOFF MULVIHILL
Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey lawmakers are moving slower than they had planned as they investigate the politically engineered traffic jams near the George Washington Bridge last year.

The reason: They’re yielding to a federal criminal probe.

Assemblyman John Wisniewski, a co-chairman of a panel looking into what happened, says the committee’s lawyer, who has been consulting with federal prosecutors, has advised that about half of the 12 people on a list of possible witnesses should not be made to testify now.

Wisniewski, a Democrat, said Wednesday that the panel made up of members of the Assembly and Senate is closer to the end of its probe than the beginning. But he said there is not clarity on one central issue: Who approved closing lanes in Fort Lee that caused four days of massive traffic jams apparently as retribution for the mayor there, Mark Sokolich.

The lane closures came weeks after Bridget Kelly, then a deputy chief of staff to Gov. Chris Christie, sent a message to David Wildstein, a ranking official at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the bridge: “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.”

“We’ve seen an abuse of power,” Wisniewski said Wednesday. “We don’t have any idea how it took place.”

Wisniewski said he hopes that answer can be learned.

He said that’s a reason his committee will continue its work even if a grand jury decides not to file charges.

A report commissioned by the governor’s office and released in March found that Christie was not involved in closing the lanes.

Kelly and Wildstein are among people who have refused to cooperate with the legislative committee, citing their right not to incriminate themselves.

Sokolich; Christie’s political strategist Michael DuHaime; and his former chief counsel, Charles McKenna, are among those who appeared on a list of 13 potential witnesses that was obtained last month by The Associated Press and other media outlets.

On Wednesday, Wisniewski would not say which witnesses had been ruled out for now.

But he said they included some of the key figures. Those who could be called now, he said, may not be able to provide new details.

Of the 13, the only one to receive a subpoena from the lawmakers so far is Christie aide Regina Egea. She is scheduled to testify on Thursday and is likely to face questions about being forwarded a Port Authority email ordering the re-opening of the closed lanes and also her work in editing the statement that was to be delivered by then-Port Authority Deputy Director Bill Baroni when he testified before the committee in November.

Three other committee meetings scheduled for this month have been canceled.

Wisniewski said it is possible, but growing unlikely, that the committee will wrap up its work by early fall, when the other co-chair, state Sen. Loretta Weinberg, said she hoped it would be finished.

___

Follow Mulvihill at http://www.twitter.com/geoffmulvihill

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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