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Texas abortion clinics: More calls, longer waits

By WTOP Staff

HOUSTON (AP) — The eight remaining abortion clinics in Texas are reporting a spike in the number of phone calls and longer waits for appointments after a federal court allowed enforcement of the last of Texas’ new abortion regulations.

The Houston Chronicle reported Sunday (http://bit.ly/ZVxlRk ) its analysis of data shows Texas now has 75 percent fewer abortion clinics than two years ago, among the fewest per capita anywhere in the nation and the smallest number of clinics open since the 1970s.

A dozen abortion facilities closed after a 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel on Oct. 2 allowed the state to enforce tough clinic laws passed by the Texas Legislature and signed by Gov. Rick Perry last year. The full 5th Circuit last week declined to reconsider the ruling and abortion rights supporters now have asked the Supreme Court to intervene.

A spokesman for the Austin Planned Parenthood facility told the newspaper it received seven times as many calls as normal last week, with many of the calls from far-away cities such as Midland and McAllen, where abortion access has disappeared.

In Texas, two clinics now are open in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. Austin and Fort Worth each have one.

Ken Lambrecht, president and CEO of the Planned Parenthood clinic in Dallas, said he was anticipating a jump in calls but not from so many women hundreds of miles away.

He told the newspaper that when a mother seeking an abortion for her daughter was told the next available appointment wasn’t for another three weeks, she said: “We might as well go to Mexico.”

Then she hung up, Lambrecht said.

“It’s hard to explain because in a way, it’s exactly what we expected, but at the same time, it’s something completely different and something we didn’t plan for because we couldn’t,” Lambrecht said.

Planned Parenthood in Houston spokeswoman Rochelle Tafolla said calls have been up 170 percent in the week after the 5th Circuit panel’s ruling.

The Chronicle analysis of data shows about 750,000 Texas women of reproductive age now live more than 200 miles away from an abortion clinic.

Records show annual abortions in Texas have fallen gradually over the years even as the number of clinics, until recently, remained steady. Department of State Health Services records counted 68,298 procedures in 2012 at 43 clinics, down 12 percent from 2001 when there were 34 providers.

Lindsay Rodriguez, president of the Lillith Fund, which helps women pay for abortions, said the state-required clinic upgrades were leading to increases in costs of abortions and that longer waiting times meant later-term abortions, which are more complicated.

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Information from: Houston Chronicle, http://www.houstonchronicle.com

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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