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Investigations underway into Ohio prison escape

By WTOP Staff

ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS
Associated Press

LIMA, Ohio (AP) — Criminal and internal investigations are underway to determine how a convicted killer of three Ohio high school students managed to escape from prison, along with two other inmates, state correction officials say.

Outside experts also will review procedures of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and recommend possible improvements, the agency said.

Authorities say the three inmates, including school shooter T.J. Lane, escaped from prison in Lima in northwestern Ohio on Thursday night by scaling a fence, which immediately sounded an alarm.

All three were back in custody by Friday morning, and officials said they were transferred to a high-security prison in Youngstown on the other side of the state.

The union representing prison guards said authorities were alerted to an escape plan Wednesday and segregated an inmate from the same unit as the escapees. But prisons spokeswoman JoEllen Smith said that inmate had nothing to do with Thursday’s escape.

Nearly 200 miles northeast of the prison, Lane’s brief taste of freedom sent shockwaves through the city of Chardon, where Lane opened fire on students in the high school cafeteria in February 2012, killing three and wounding two others. Lane pleaded guilty to aggravated murder charges last year and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Some Chardon residents interviewed by The Associated Press on Friday said they were outraged that Lane was not being held in a more secure prison. Others said the escape opened old wounds.

“With all due respect, this is attention we really don’t want,” said Police Chief Scott Niehus, adding that the community is still healing.

The escape occurred at Allen Oakwood Correctional Institution, a minimum- and medium-security prison about 80 miles south of Toledo. The three scaled a fence to a roof over an entry building at 7:38 p.m., sounding the alarm, officials said.

A prison guard immediately chased and caught inmate Lindsey Bruce; Lane, 19, was caught about 100 yards from the prison by two state troopers at 1:20 a.m. Friday after a police dog located him; the third inmate, Clifford Opperud, was caught at 4:20 a.m. after an infrared camera led officers to his hiding area under a boat at a residence and a police dog found him, authorities said.

Lane had been housed in a “protective control” unit, a higher security setting than the main compound, according to a statement Friday from the legislative prisons oversight committee. The unit is designed to hold inmates who face safety threats because of the notoriety of their crimes, because of the testimony they’ve given, or because of gang threats.

An April inspection by the committee noted ongoing security concerns within the unit.

On the day of the shootings, Lane, who was 17 at the time, was waiting for a bus to take him to an alternative school for students who don’t fare well in traditional settings. He told the court later that he didn’t know why he opened fire on the students.

Daniel Parmertor and Demetrius Hewlin, both 16, and Russell King Jr., 17, were killed; one of the students wounded is paralyzed.

____

Welsh-Huggins reported from Columbus. Associated Press writers Mark Gillispie in Chardon and Kantele Franko, Andrew Welsh-Huggins and Jennifer Smola in Columbus, Ohio, 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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