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Mixed reactions to verdict in Pistorius trial

By WTOP Staff

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — A resident of the South African city of Port Elizabeth calls the verdict “shocking, to say the least.”

Leonard Gray is talking about a judge’s decision not to convict track star Oscar Pistorius of murder in the shooting death of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who was from Port Elizabeth.

The judge today instead found Pistorius guilty of culpable homicide. The judge said there wasn’t enough evidence that Pistorius knew Steenkamp was behind a locked toilet door in his home when he shot through the door. He has said he thought there was an intruder there.

Not everyone in Steenkamp’s home town is finding fault with the verdict. One resident said prosecutors hadn’t proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the killing was intentional.

Family members of the double-amputee Olympic track star are expressing relief. An uncle says the family “never had any doubt in Oscar’s version of this tragic incident.”

Members of Steenkamp’s family were in court to hear the verdict. And a close friend of Steenkamp’s cried in court as the verdict was read.

Some legal analysts said they understood why Pistorius was found not guilty of premeditated murder but were surprised that the runner was not convicted of murder.

%@AP Links

136-a-08-(Arnold Pistirus, uncle of Oscar Pistorius, reading family statement after verdict was announced)-“in Oscar’s version”-Arnold Pistorius says the family has always supported Oscar. (12 Sep 2014)

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145-a-17-(Leonard Gray, resident of Port Elizabeth, Reeva Steenkamp hometown, in AP interview)-“of culpable homicide”-Leonard Gray, who lives in Reeva Steenkamp’s hometown, says he thinks Oscar Pistorius is “getting away with murder.” (12 Sep 2014)

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APPHOTO XDF120: Mother of the late Reeva Steenkamp, June Steenkamp, in court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, Sept. 12, 2014. In passing judgement judge Thokozile Masipa ruled out a murder conviction for the double-amputee Olympian in the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, but said he was negligent and convicted him of culpable homicide. (AP Photo/Alon Skuy, Pool) (12 Sep 2014)

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APPHOTO XDF129: Oscar Pistorius sits in the dock looking in court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, Sept. 12, 2014. Judge Thokozile Masipa found Pistorius guilty of culpable homicide for the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Sentencing procedures will start Oct. 13. (AP Photo/Siphiwe Sibeko, Pool) (12 Sep 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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