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Fans go through metal detectors at Yankee Stadium

By WTOP Staff

MIKE FITZPATRICK
AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Wearing a navy blue New York Yankees shirt, Jonathan Freedman lined up with other fans outside Gate 2 on Jerome Avenue and East 164th Street. Once he reached the front of the single-file line, he emptied his pockets into a plastic bin and was ushered through a metal detector.

Welcome to Yankee Stadium, where security measures now resemble those at the airport. And starting next season, that will be the case at every ballpark in the big leagues.

As part of Major League Baseball’s security plan, metal detectors were added at some Yankee Stadium gates beginning Tuesday night, when New York hosted the Houston Astros. MLB has been working with the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate safety procedures, and all 30 big league parks will have metal detectors by opening day 2015.

The Yankees tried to prepare fans for the change, announcing last Friday they would start implementing the new system on this homestand. It will remain in place for the rest of the season.

Other stadiums have already put the metal detectors in place, too.

“I’m currently living abroad in Israel, so I’m very proud that they have security here. It’s been needed for a long time,” the 30-year-old Freedman said. “It took a half a second. It was really fast and thorough and they were very courteous. … All professional. It was all well done.”

Fans were asked to take cellphones and large metal objects out of their pockets before walking through the detectors to enter the ballpark. Those who didn’t want to pass through the detectors could choose to be checked by security personnel with a hand-held device.

“It wasn’t that terrible,” said Matt Lurin, 48. “I think in the past when we used to have to take our hats off and show nothing was underside, and take our stuff out of the pockets, it was the same thing. You’re less leaving this to chance now. You have a place to put your metal items. They slid it right by and we walked through. It was no problem.”

But what about when it’s a sellout crowd for a playoff game? Could delays become aggravating?

“I think it’ll be fine. I used to find it strange when they asked me to take my wallet out, and I really don’t feel comfortable taking my wallet out in the middle of the Bronx for no reason,” Lurin said. “Now they give me a little thing, I put it right in, and it slides right over. It’s on the table and I can see what’s going on. It seems fine.”

About 30 minutes before the first pitch, the line was moving quickly and few fans were grumbling.

At least not out loud.

“It’s frustrating when you see the door 5 feet away and they’re making you wait to go through, but other than that I haven’t heard any complaints,” Lurin said.

One security guard, however, mentioned that fans kept forgetting their bags, keys, wallets or phones in the bins as they headed toward the turnstiles after passing through the metal detector.

It happened so often that a guard was stationed on the other side of the detector just to remind fans to retrieve their personal belongings.

“You’ve got to expect the unexpected living in New York,” said 36-year-old Tony Rivera, who resides in Chicago. “I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

___

AP freelance writer Scott Orgera contributed to this report.

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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