Wednesday, October 19, 2005
College costs increase
For students and parents, it's the first sliver of good news about college costs for several years: price increases slowed this year, growing at the lowest rate since 2001. But the bad news is the 7.1 percent increase at public four-year universities remains well above the general inflation rate and drove the "list price" of tuition and fees at those schools to an average of $5,491, according to an annual survey released Tuesday by the College Board. Prices at two-year public colleges, which educate nearly half of American college students, rose 5.4 percent to $2,191. At four-year private, nonprofit colleges, costs rose 5.9 percent to $21,235. Most families don't pay the full list price, thanks to grants from the government and other sources, as well as tax breaks. Typical net costs: $11,600 at private four-year schools; $2,200 at public four-year schools; and just $400 at community colleges. Yet students at four-year public colleges are paying an estimated $750 more than just two years ago. And while total financial aid is increasing, loans accounted for more of the growth than grants for the third consecutive year, the College Board said.
Dam withstands pressure
TAUNTON, Mass. -- Engineers struggled to ease pressure on a battered 173-year-old wooden dam Tuesday and prevent a collapse that could send a wall of water crashing through this town of 50,000. Crews opened floodgates on the Whittenton Pond Dam and also adjusted the flow on a second dam upstream on the rain-swollen Mill River. The river fell by several inches, but an evacuation order remained in effect, and schools and highways were closed amid fears a dam break could send 6 feet of water surging through downtown Taunton, a working-class community about 40 miles from Boston.
Threat closes tunnel
BALTIMORE -- A sketchy threat to blow up vehicles full of explosives prompted authorities Tuesday to close one of the busy tunnels underneath Baltimore's harbor and partially shut down the other. One person who may have been connected to the threat was arrested on immigration charges, a law enforcement official said. Traffic was allowed to resume by early afternoon after being diverted for nearly two hours, but the FBI continued to investigate. The four-lane Baltimore Harbor Tunnel was closed around midday, and the eight-lane Fort McHenry Tunnel was reduced to one lane in each direction. The tunnels, both about 1.4 miles long, carry traffic between Washington and the Philadelphia and New York City areas.
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