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National Guardsmen on watch at nightfall in troubled St. Louis suburb

By WTOP Staff

FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) — National Guard units with armored vehicles are lined up tonight at a staging area about a half-mile from the scene of the largest protests in Ferguson, Missouri, following the fatal shooting of an unarmed 18-year-old by police.

Earlier today, Gov. Jay Nixon lifted the neighborhood’s midnight-to-5 a.m. curfew. He had summoned the National Guard overnight after police again used tear gas to quell protesters.

Nixon said the National Guard troops would be under the direction of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, which is overseeing security during protests.

Closer to the protest site, a crowd of demonstrators formed and is growing in size tonight. Sheriff’s deputies in body armor and state troopers carrying wooden bats and gas masks stood watch over the group.

Police told protesters that they could not assemble in a single spot, saying they had to keep moving. In federal court, a judge denied a request from the American Civil Liberties Union for a restraining order that would have prevented authorities from enforcing the rule. And police said that two men were arrested for disorderly conduct and failure to disperse.

A grand jury could begin hearing evidence Wednesday to determine whether the white officer involved in the shooting of Michael Brown, who was black, should be charged.

%@AP Links

176-a-07-(Captain Ron Johnson, commander, Missouri Highway Patrol, at news conference)-“of this community”-Captain Ron Johnson says peaceful protests are allowed, but troublemakers will not be tolerated. (18 Aug 2014)

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177-a-12-(Captain Ron Johnson, commander, Missouri Highway Patrol, at news conference)-“to insure that”-Captain Ron Johnson says those who want to protest in Ferguson can do so peacefully. (18 Aug 2014)

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186-a-16-(President Barack Obama, with reporters)-“and stir chaos”-President Obama says Ferguson needs to unite and protest peacefully. (18 Aug 2014)

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221-a-17-(Yah Ammi, protester, in AP interview)-“harassing black people”-Protester Yah Ammi says the police are creating a confrontation with people who want to march in Ferguson. ((note length of cut)) (18 Aug 2014)

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223-a-13-(Protester who declined to give his name, in AP interview)-“leaving it there”-This protester in Ferguson, Missouri who declined to give his name, says he’s wearing a protective mask in case police use tear gas tonight. (18 Aug 2014)

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220-r-06-(Sound of protesters, marching and chanting “What to we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now!”)–Sound of protesters in Ferguson, Missouri, marching and chanting “What to we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now!” (18 Aug 2014)

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222-r-06-(Sound of protesters, chanting “United we stand, divided we fall”)–Sound of protesters in Ferguson chanting “United we stand, divided we fall.” (18 Aug 2014)

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224-r-11-(Sound of police announcement over loudspeaker, addressing protesters in Ferguson, Mo.)–Sound of police announcement over loudspeaker addressing protesters in Ferguson, Missouri. (18 Aug 2014)

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APPHOTO MOCR108: Police watch from the parking lot of a burned-out gas station Monday, Aug. 18, 2014, as people protest the police shooting of Michael Brown Aug. 9 in Ferguson, Mo. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon called in the National Guard Monday after police again used tear gas to quell protesters in the wake of the shooting of Michael Brown. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (18 Aug 2014)

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APPHOTO CAMS103: A man holds up a sign during a demonstration in protest of the shooting of Michael Brown on Monday, Aug. 18, 2014, in San Francisco. The Aug. 9 shooting of Michael Brown by police has touched off protests in Ferguson, Mo. and other parts of the country. Gov. Jay Nixon ordered the National Guard to help restore order Monday, while lifting a midnight-to-5 a.m. curfew that had been in place for two days. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) (18 Aug 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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