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Where investigations stand in traffic jam scandal

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

The closures of lanes leading up to the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, New Jersey, a year ago touched off multiple investigations — all funded by taxpayers — into whether they were done for political retribution and, if so, who was involved.

Here is a rundown of where the investigations stand:

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LAWMAKERS DIG

The New Jersey Assembly Transportation committee was interested in the lane closures before they became a full-blown scandal.

The committee started looking into the closures last year. Information that the committee received through subpoenas included the email from a staffer for Republican Gov. Chris Christie to a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey official saying, “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee” just weeks before the lanes were closed.

The legislative effort has since been taken over by a special joint committee.

Some potentially key witnesses have invoked their right not to incriminate themselves and have refused to testify. The U.S. attorney’s office has asked the committee’s lawyer not to interview some others.

The committee has queried some members of Christie’s staff but has not made any huge revelations. With parts of the probe on hold, it is looking less likely that the committee will have a report done by early fall, as one of its co-chairs has said she would like.

Christie and his supporters say the investigation is politically motivated.

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CHRISTIE RESPONDS

In January, Christie’s office hired a law firm to primarily help it comply with subpoenas from lawmakers and other criminal investigations.

But it did other work, too: It released a report in March that cleared Christie and his associates of any wrongdoing in the lane closures. The report suggested that a former Christie aide, Bridget Kelly, and a former Port Authority official, David Wildstein, worked together to close the bridge lanes and that no one else was involved.

The report also denied claims by Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer that her city’s Superstorm Sandy aid was being tied to her support of a real estate project favored by some with Christie connections. The report has been widely panned as a whitewash.

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PROSECUTORS ACT

The man who replaced Christie as the U.S. attorney for New Jersey, Paul Fishman, announced in January that his office was investigating the lane closures.

But federal investigators haven’t disclosed anything beyond that.

Some of Christie’s staffers are among those who have spoken to a federal grand jury.

But what exactly is being looked at and when any indictments might be made or unsealed has not been made public.

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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