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Washington’s Top News — Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Here’s a look at some of the day’s top stories from WTOP:

US officials: Airstrikes may have disrupted attack planning

WASHINGTON — The FBI and Homeland Security say U.S. airstrikes on militants in Syria may have temporarily disrupted attack planning against Western targets, including the U.S.

But they say there’s no indication of a plot by al-Qaida or the Islamic State group for an attack inside the United States. The U.S. and five Arab allies carried out more than 200 airstrikes against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq late Monday.

World leaders meet with multiple crises on agenda

UNITED NATIONS — Leaders from more than 140 countries open their annual meeting at the United Nations on Wednesday.

They’re faced with a world in turmoil from multiple crises ranging from wars in the Mideast and Africa, to the threat of the militant Islamic State group, to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

President Barack Obama chairs a Security Council meeting at which members are expected to adopt a resolution that would require all countries to prevent the recruitment and transport of foreign fighters preparing to join terrorist groups.

Pastor: UPS gunman was `troubled’ over work

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A pastor says the man who killed two former co-workers and then himself at a UPS warehouse had told some people that he was having problems at work but never suggested that the situation might turn violent.

A law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to release the information, identified the shooter as Joe Tesney.

Police said earlier Tuesday that an ex-employee who had been fired just a day ago entered the sorting facility through a truck dock door and opened fire, killing a supervisor and another worker.

Suspect charged in case of missing UVa student

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Police are on the hunt for the man they believe was the last person seen with a University of Virginia student before she disappeared.

Jesse Leroy Matthew Jr. has been charged with abducting 18-year-old Hannah Graham, has been missing since Sept. 13.

Matthew was last seen Saturday when he stopped by a police station with his mother and uncle to ask for a lawyer. Police say he sped away, losing officers who had him under surveillance.

New photos show toll of age, prison on pop legend

LOS ANGELES — Two newly released photos of Phil Spector show the toll of age and prison on the once flamboyant music legend.

The most recent photo shows a bald, somber-looking 73-year-old Spector staring straight into the camera on Oct. 28, 2013. An earlier photo of a smiling Spector is dated July 24, 2013.

Ban sought on children working on tobacco farms

WASHINGTON — Thirty-five House Democrats are calling on the Obama administration to prohibit children from working on tobacco farms.

The lawmakers are suggesting the restriction in a letter to Labor Secretary Thomas Perez.

They cite a Human Rights Watch report which found that nearly three-quarters of the children it interviewed reported symptoms of nicotine poisoning from handling tobacco plants. The symptoms include nausea and headaches.

A killer show with sharp humor

The Stephen Sondheim musical has always been one of the weirder hits in the history of Broadway in its 35 years, and Virginia Opera celebrates its 40th season with a new production. On WTOP’s Entertainment page, find out the appeal of the show and the long history the Virginia director has with the play.

Putting the phone back in the smartphone

How often do you talk on your smartphone? We tap away at them constantly, sending texts and emails, but we don’t actually use then as phones that often. A former Microsoft executive says that’s “very mechanical and very transactional,” and he’s developed an app to send the equivalent of text messages in the spoken word. On WTOP’s Tech page, read how it works and some similar apps that seek to bring the emotions of the human voice back into electronic communication.

The pros and cons of “big organic”

As more and more people take up organic eating, those companies that were once small and independent are getting bought up by big companies such as General Mills. What does this mean for the companies? What does it mean for the food? On WTOP’s Living page, Rachel Nania breaks down the changes that are coming to a grocery store near you.

A different domestic violence story in sports

Hope Solo, the star soccer goalie, was recently arrested and charged with domestic violence, just as Ray Rice and other NFL players have been. But she hasn’t been suspended from the U.S. Women’s National Team, and her case hasn’t received nearly the attention of the football players’. Is there a double standard at work here?

Not really, Noah Frank writes — there are real differences between the cases and the leagues, though the national team has made mistakes too. He talks with USA Today’s Christine Brennan about what’s happening and what should be done.

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

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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