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Teacher hurt in crash with cow blames Cliven Bundy

By WTOP Staff

KEN RITTER
Associated Press

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A Las Vegas schoolteacher injured in a crash with a wayward cow is suing Cliven Bundy, saying the southern Nevada rancher let his cattle wander through a broken fence not far from where his supporters and federal agents had an armed standoff.

Danielle Marie Beck, a seventh-grade math teacher, suffered serious injuries including broken ribs in the crash, said her attorney Bob Apple. She filed a civil lawsuit Sunday in Clark County District Court, seeking at least $20,000 in damages and medical expenses.

The crash came two days after the April 12 standoff over an attempted roundup of Bundy’s cattle, which land managers say he’s been illegally grazing on public land for 20 years. Bundy, a states’ rights advocate and descendant of Mormon settlers, refuses to acknowledge federal authority on public lands.

Bundy told the Las Vegas Review-Journal the state was at fault for failing to maintain the fence, and he blamed the driver for hitting his cow.

“It’s a state problem. It’s not our problem,” Bundy said (http://bit.ly/1tpazvZ ). “We really feel bad when it happens. But we’re not liable. The person whose car hit that cow is liable to me.”

Bundy didn’t immediately respond to messages Thursday from The Associated Press, and it was not clear if he had an attorney. He has represented himself in previous local, state and federal legal proceedings.

Fences lining the interstate are owned and maintained by the Nevada Department of Transportation to designate right-of-way and to control access, said Mary Martini, district engineer for the transportation department.

“In some areas we use livestock fences,” Martini said in a statement. “But it is always the responsibility and liability of the owners to control their animals.”

Beck was a passenger and her friend, Matthew Paul Zanatta, was driving the 2009 Mazda sedan about 70 mph in a 75 mph zone when it hit the cow on a dark stretch of Interstate 15 about 75 miles northeast of downtown Las Vegas, according to a Nevada Highway Patrol report. The car veered into a culvert, where paramedics reached Zanatta and Beck. The car was demolished.

Troopers said one cow was dead at the scene and four others were herded out of the interstate right-of-way through the broken fence. Dispatchers contacted Bundy, who lives in nearby Bunkerville, but he didn’t go to the crash scene, the report said.

The showdown between federal land managers and Bundy came during an attempt by contract cowboys to round up some 900 head of Bundy cattle from parched public range surrounding his Virgin River valley ranch and melon farm.

The federal Bureau of Land Management maintains that Bundy owes more than $1 million in fees and penalties.

Bureau officials, who didn’t immediately comment on Thursday, have promised administrative and judicial efforts to resolve the dispute.

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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