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Oklahoma: Inmates’ allegations in lawsuit false

By WTOP Staff

SEAN MURPHY
Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The drugs and procedures used to execute a death row inmate in a botched lethal injection in April do not risk violating the constitutional rights of other prisoners awaiting execution, attorneys for the state of Oklahoma argue.

In a response filed late Wednesday in federal court in Oklahoma City, the attorney general’s office also maintains the lawsuit filed on behalf of 21 death row inmates is premature and should be stayed since the state’s execution protocols are currently under review and subject to change.

The inmates are seeking to halt any attempt to execute them using the state’s current lethal injection protocols, which they allege present a risk of severe pain and suffering in violation of the U.S. Constitution. But the state said in its filing that all but the three death row plaintiffs currently scheduled to be executed — Charles Warner, Richard Glossip and John Grant — should be dismissed from the case.

“While plaintiffs will eventually be executed, there is no certain, great, or actual threat that they will be executed under the same protocol that currently exists,” Assistant Attorneys General John Hadden and Aaron Stewart wrote.

The inmates’ lawsuit followed the state’s botched April 29 execution of Clayton Lockett using a new three-drug method. Lockett writhed on the gurney, moaned and clenched his teeth for several minutes, and his execution was halted after a doctor determined there was a problem with a single IV in Lockett’s groin. He was pronounced dead about 43 minutes after the execution began.

Gov. Mary Fallin has ordered an independent investigation into Lockett’s botched execution, and prisons director Robert Patton has previously suggested Oklahoma’s lethal injection protocols need to be revised. The investigation, which is being conducted by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, is ongoing.

Along with Patton, defendants include Oklahoma State Penitentiary warden Anita Trammell, members of the Board of Corrections and the anonymous participants in the execution — including the doctor inside the death chamber, the paramedic charged with inserting the IVs and the three executioners who administer the lethal drugs.

Attorneys for the state also asked the court to dismiss all of the defendants except for Patton and Trammell, saying the rest are “duplicative, irrelevant, and repetitive.”

The state denies it is violating the inmates’ rights by refusing to disclose the source of the drugs.

The inmates’ lawsuit says that Trammell and Patton inappropriately closed the blinds during Lockett’s execution to prevent witnesses from seeing the final minutes of Lockett’s execution. The state denied that and said the two “exercised their discretion.”

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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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